Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Medical Examiner Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Budget committee tables Prop J certification on private security for new medical examiner facility
Summary
The Budget & Finance Committee tabled a resolution that would allow private contractors to staff security at the new Medical Examiner facility at 1 Newhall Street, after debate over alleged cost savings and liability concerns. The Controller and City Administrator cited savings if outsourced; deputy sheriffs and the Sheriff—s office urged in-house staffing.
The Budget and Finance Committee on June 21 tabled consideration of a Prop J contract certification that would permit private security at the new Medical Examiner facility at 1 Newhall Street in Bayview.
Chair Supervisor Malia Cohen moved to table the item after hearing staff estimates and public comment; the motion passed unanimously. Naomi Kelly, city administrator, told the committee the outsourcing option could save the city roughly $523,000 to $669,000 a year, while Controller Ben Rosenfield said staffing the site in-house would cost about $618,000 in the coming budget year and rise modestly thereafter.
Deputy Sheriffs Association representative Jim Bickert urged the committee to prioritize public‑safety training and liability control and opposed private staffing. "Deputy sheriffs' pre‑employment testing and experience provide a higher level of control and help mitigate liability," Bickert said. Sheriff department representatives told the committee they believe they have capacity to staff the facility and described a plan for three posts, roughly 5.2 full‑time equivalents, with supervision to cover the site when it opens.
Supervisors voiced competing priorities: Cohen and Supervisor Sheehy favored the Sheriff staffing the building, citing continuity with current protection at the Hall of Justice; Supervisor Tang requested additional public comment and operational details. After public comment—where the DSA formally opposed private security—the committee took up the motion to table the item and agreed to revisit the certification at a later date.
The tabling preserves committee oversight of whether Prop J certification will be granted and gives staff more time to reconcile cost estimates, operational responsibilities, and liability concerns before the Board of Supervisors considers the matter on the full agenda.
The committee also agreed to seek additional information from both the Controller and Sheriff about staffing costs, pension impacts and the operational plan before deciding whether to concur with a private contract approach.
