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Police present staffing analyses, request $3.5 million for electronic control weapons and cite ongoing DOJ reform work
Summary
Chief Scott outlined police budget priorities—strategic staffing, DOJ reforms, transit-hub policing and a critical fleet backlog—and said the department requested $3.5 million for electronic control weapons (including $500,000 for integration) while staffing analyses continue.
San Francisco Police Chief (Chief Scott) presented the department's preliminary budget submission and described priorities that include strategic staffing analyses, continuing implementation of Department of Justice recommendations, policing at major transit hubs and a failing vehicle fleet.
Chief Scott said three staffing analyses are underway (the Budget & Legislative Analyst, the Controller's Office and an internal Police Department/Mayor's Office working group). A community task force will help shape methodologies; CFO Catherine Maguire said a letter outlining members and approach will be submitted to the Police Commission and supervisors.
On equipment and implementation, the department included a $3,500,000 request for electronic control weapons (ECWs): roughly $500,000 for technology integration (including body-camera and CAD links) and about $3,000,000 for the devices themselves, to be phased. The department said initial training costs are expected to be modest and informed by a recent BLA report.
Committee members pressed on accountability for body-worn cameras and asked about liability. Captain/CFO said there is a $1,600,000 litigation reserve in the department's professional services budget; the Controller's Office described a separate large-loss reserve in the general fund for payouts over $1 million. Chief Scott and members debated national litigation reported by Reuters around ECWs and the department emphasized policy, training and oversight as mitigation.
Chief Scott said the department has addressed roughly 40% of the 272 DOJ recommendations prior to recent state DOJ re-engagement and the department has signed an MOU with the California DOJ to continue work plans. On fleet, the department asked for dozens of replacement vehicles and said current inventory retirement is exceeding replacements.
Committee members asked about sworn counts (Chief Scott cited roughly 1,898 full-duty officers and a projection to 1,953 by June), airport staffing and continuing civilianization to move sworn officers out of administrative roles. The department will return with more detailed staffing analysis in April and June.
