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Debate over Station 49 supervision model: department seeks 12‑hour officers, unions resist changing 24‑hour shifts
Summary
SFFD staff recommended moving Station 49 supervisors from 24‑hour to 12‑hour shifts and requested more supervisory positions to address administrative workload, narcotics tracking and fleet logistics; union leaders argued the problem is staffing levels and rotating assignments, not shift length.
Deputy Chief Gonzales and EMS staff told the Fire Commission March 9 that Station 49’s supervisory model is strained by growth in personnel and ambulances, complex administrative duties and new narcotics accounting requirements.
Acting Section Chief Tony Moy described daily Station 49 responsibilities — managing employees, fleet maintenance, scheduling, controlled‑substance accountability and logistics — and said “having one person assigned to handle all these functions for a 24‑hour period leads to things falling through the cracks.” ADC Jeff Myers and other chiefs described an expanded workload with nearly 200 employees and 54 ambulances tied to Station 49 and urged moving supervisory officers to 12‑hour shifts with at least two officers on duty to provide consistent day and night supervision.
Staff said they had requested six supervisory positions (intended to support a 12‑hour model) but were funded this fiscal year for four (roughly $1.2 million to staff those positions); they asked the Commission to support additional resources or alternative models that would ensure accountability and safety. Deputy chiefs also raised compliance issues tied to controlled substances counts and recent moves to electronic patient care reports.
Union speakers and Station 49 captains disputed shifting to 12 hours. Ray Crawford, senior captain at Station 49, and Mike Hooley, president of the SFEMS Officers Association, said the problems stem from rotating supervision assignments and insufficient staffing rather than the 24‑hour shift itself. Tom O’Connor, president of the San Francisco Firefighters, argued the central problem is span of control and that adding more supervisory personnel — regardless of shift length — is necessary to manage the workload.
Commissioners asked for cost comparisons and schedules. CFO Mark Corso noted prior budget requests: four funded positions cost about $1.2 million; six requested positions were budgeted at approximately $1.8 million. Commissioners and staff discussed technology options (e.g., automated narcotics cabinets) and agreed to continue discussions with bargaining units. President Francie Covington asked staff to consider a survey of Station 49 members so the Commission has a clear record of preferences and operational concerns from rank‑and‑file personnel.
No formal change was adopted; staff and unions left the matter open for further negotiation and a follow‑up report.
