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Police present accelerated hiring plan; analysts recommend reserving body‑camera funds pending policy
Summary
Chief Suhr described a multi‑class hiring plan to reach charter staffing early and listed technology investments including e‑citations and a body‑camera program estimated at about $3M in year one. The Budget & Legislative Analyst recommended placing $2.78M on reserve until the body‑camera working group finishes policy decisions on storage, access and redaction.
Police Chief Greg Suhr presented the San Francisco Police Department's FY15–16 budget and an accelerated hiring plan that aims to reach the chartered sworn complement (1,971) sooner than previously scheduled. The department proposed five academy classes and additional civilian positions, including cadet expansion funded partly by private donors; Chief Suhr said the hiring plan would increase patrol, traffic and specialty units.
On body cameras, the chief outlined estimates for hardware and recurring storage/support: roughly $1,800,000 for cameras and an approximate annual storage/maintenance estimate of $1,000 per camera. "The cameras themselves are about $1,000 a day," the chief said in budget Q&A to explain recurring costs and the potential volume of Freedom‑of‑Information/records redaction work.
Budget and Legislative Analyst Harvey Rose recommended placing $2,776,528 in program reserves for the body‑camera program while the department's working group completes its policy development on data retention, access and redaction procedures. The committee accepted the placement on reserve as a recommendation, and the police department and analysts agreed to continue work with the Police Commission and stakeholder groups (ACLU, Public Defender, OCC) on policy and procurement details before funds are released.
The hearing also covered the history of prisoner transport responsibilities and deputies' participation at hospitals; chief and supervisors discussed options for returning some transport responsibilities to the Sheriff's Office to free officers for patrol duties.
