San Francisco supervisors urge Civil Service Commission to bar applicants with histories of misconduct; committee forwards resolution to full board

San Francisco supervisors on Friday advanced a resolution urging the Civil Service Commission to adopt rules that would disqualify applicants for positions in the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office if they have known histories of serious misconduct.

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee, meeting remotely on Juneteenth, voted unanimously to file the proposed “George Floyd” resolution as a committee report and forward it to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration on June 23. Supervisor Shamann Walton, who introduced the item with co‑sponsors including District Attorney Chesa Boudin, framed the resolution as a response to systemic racism and recent nationally publicized incidents of police violence.

“The time for change has come,” Walton said, arguing the city should not hire officers with prior allegations, sustained misconduct findings, excessive‑force complaints or evidence of racial profiling. He cited national outrage over the death of George Floyd and described the resolution as an effort to prevent officers with problematic records from being rehired into San Francisco law enforcement.

District Attorney Chesa Boudin said she co‑introduced the measure to help ensure accountability and transparency when other jurisdictions’ records are not easily accessible. “This resolution urges the Civil Service Commission to prohibit the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office from hiring officers or sheriff deputies with a known history of serious misconduct,” Boudin said. She described the proposal as part of broader efforts to reshape public safety and to prioritize accountability.

The text discussed at the committee would direct the Civil Service Commission to adopt rules disqualifying applicants who have been the subject of a sustained finding of serious misconduct or who have two unsustained complaints from different jurisdictions that, following investigation and appeal, indicate they engaged in serious misconduct while employed as peace officers. The resolution lists examples of disqualifying conduct, including use of excessive force, racial bias, discrimination, dishonesty related to reporting or investigations, and resigning or retiring while disciplinary proceedings were pending.

Committee members expressed broad support for the measure. Vice Chair Supervisor Catherine Stefani moved to excuse Chair Rafael Mandelman from the special meeting; the committee recorded three aye votes. Supervisor Ahsha Safaee said the resolution should codify existing practice and called it “long overdue.”

During public comment, a resident who did not provide a name said the proposal was an important step but warned that treating it as a major reform could make harder changes more difficult to pass. Mimi Klausner, a long‑time participant in local police‑accountability work, praised the resolution but urged stronger action, including consideration of removing current officers with sustained findings and broader reforms.

The committee approved the recommendation to forward the resolution to the full Board for a June 23 vote. The committee recorded three ayes on the referral; no roll‑call dissent or abstentions were reported. With no further business, Vice Chair Stefani adjourned the special meeting.

If the Board adopts the committee report and the Civil Service Commission implements the requested rules, the local policy would apply at the hiring stage in San Francisco; the resolution itself does not directly change civil‑service law but asks the commission to adopt implementing rules. The resolution and related legislative file will be available on the Board of Supervisors’ docket ahead of the June 23 meeting.