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SFPD apologizes to Adachi family; department opens criminal and administrative investigations after report leak
Summary
After public outcry over an early release of the police report in the death of former public defender Jeff Adachi, SFPD commanders apologized to the family and said criminal and administrative investigations are active. Board members and community groups pressed for accountability and public reporting on outcomes.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee held a focused hearing April 18 on San Francisco Police Department policies governing release of private information after media outlets published a police report shortly after the death of former City Public Defender Jeff Adachi.
Capt. Bill Broconi, acting captain for SFPD—s Risk Management Division, summarized department general orders and state law that guide release of police reports and restricted law-enforcement databases (CLETS/LEDS/rap-sheet data). He said the department—s policy is to release police reports on request unless disclosure would endanger an individual or compromise an investigation, and that some information (victim addresses for sexual-assault victims, juvenile identities, information that would identify confidential informants) is routinely withheld.
Commander Greg McEachern of SFPD—s Investigations Bureau told the committee that the Adachi report—s release appeared to be improper and that his unit—s criminal investigations division is actively investigating the leak. "This case is a priority case in our unit," McEachern said; he declined to comment on details while the probe continues but said he hoped to complete the work in weeks rather than months.
He and Capt. Broconi described potential disciplinary consequences for unauthorized access or dissemination of confidential information, including suspension or termination for serious violations and possible criminal prosecution.
Heidi Rizakam, managing attorney of the Public Defender's investigations unit, told the committee a reporter had told their investigator that a "stringer" offered the Adachi report for sale to news outlets for $2,500 per copy and that some outlets obtained the report within hours of the death. The Public Defender's Office provided an investigative memo to SFPD; SFPD said its internal criminal-investigations unit opened an inquiry and had interviewed witnesses. The department apologized to Adachi's widow, Mitsuko Adachi, who testified that she had received only a partial (redacted) report from SFPD and described the release as "despicable."
Multiple advocacy groups (ACLU, public-defense staff, community leaders) also recounted a 2018 incident in which a retired SFPD inspector displayed what he said was a rap sheet at a politically oriented public meeting; investigators said that case produced an inquiry but was inconclusive because witnesses described the document as old and no unambiguous subject name was identified.
At the hearing SFPD officials said they had not routed the Adachi report release through the department—s Public Information Office and that the department is seeking to identify unauthorized access and any persons responsible. Command staff apologized to the Adachi family on the record and pledged to hold accountable anyone who violated general orders or state law.
Supervisor Hillary Ronen, Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer and others demanded a public follow-up. The committee continued the item to the call of the chair pending the outcome of criminal and administrative investigations and instructed SFPD to return with results and any recommended policy changes.
