Commission hears urgent staffing shortfall and recruitment plan as chiefs brief on recent homicide surge

The San Francisco Police Commission devoted the bulk of its Aug. 16 meeting to a detailed presentation and extended question-and-answer on recruitment, retention and staffing and received a simultaneous briefing from the chief's office on recent homicides and field operations.

Captain Ron Roth, who oversees training and recruitment activities, told the commission that San Francisco faces national recruiting challenges (a baby-boom retirement wave and competition from other agencies) and local problems including a high cost of living and a lengthy selection process. Roth said the department's selection ratio is roughly 3—5% (meaning only 3 to 5 percent of applicants reach the academy) and estimated the city needs to add several hundred recruits each year to close a staffing gap. He said the recruitment unit moved to year-round online drives and an outdoor bus ad campaign; online applications rose from about 10 per day to roughly 15 per day during the campaign.

Captain Mark Gonzales (Staff Services Division) provided specific staffing counts: an overall sworn number of 2,188 including academy recruits and airport bureau officers, and an adjusted…