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Committee releases funds for district attorney's Independent Investigations Bureau; staff cite MOU with SFPD as pending issue
Summary
The committee approved release of most reserved funding for the District Attorney's Independent Investigations Bureau to support investigations of officer-involved shootings, while staff said finalizing an MOU with SFPD remains a scheduling and negotiation task.
SAN FRANCISCO
The Budget & Finance Committee approved the release of reserved funds to support the District Attorney's Independent Investigations Bureau (IIB), a unit set up to investigate officer‑involved shootings and in‑custody deaths.
DA office representatives told the committee they spent the prior months working with the controller's office to assess comparative models and metrics; they praised the controller's report and said the IIB had made procedural improvements such as immediate notifications and on‑call investigative teams that reach scenes faster. John Alden is named in the presentation as the IIB's managing attorney conducting field work.
Budget Analyst Sevin Campbell reviewed the BLA recommendation: when the Board appropriated funds in June, half were placed on reserve pending the Comptroller's report; with that report now published the BLA recommended releasing $1,165,000 and retaining $189,000 on reserve to return to the general fund at year end, and noted the department concurred.
DA staff and committee members discussed the remaining need to finalize an MOU with the San Francisco Police Department to streamline interviews and coordination; staff said scheduling and negotiation remain the principal obstacles but expressed optimism the MOU can be completed.
Public comment included a speaker who praised DA George Gascon and urged support for the IIB. Chair Cohen moved to approve the BLA amendments and release of funds; the motion passed without objection.
Why it matters: The IIB is designed to create more independent oversight of serious force incidents. Release of most reserved salary funds permits the office to staff and sustain investigative activity through the fiscal year, though operational details remain contingent on an MOU with SFPD.
