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Committee pauses on Robert Hirsch police-commission nomination amid quorum concerns; several supporters testify
Summary
The Rules Committee heard extensive public support for Mayor Lee's nominee Robert (Bob) Hirsch to the Police Commission and voted to continue consideration to the call of the chair after supervisors debated timing and quorum implications for ongoing disciplinary and reform work.
The San Francisco Rules Committee opened Item 3 on Mayor Lee’s nomination of Robert (Bob) Hirsch to the Police Commission and heard extended testimony from the nominee and more than a dozen supporters before choosing to continue the nomination to the call of the chair.
Hirsch, a longtime mediator, arbitrator and former labor lawyer, told the committee he has spent years mediating disputes for courts and public agencies and said he viewed patterns of police use of force as systemic rather than solely individual misconduct. “I’ve read [the Department of Justice] report twice now,” Hirsch said, and he expressed support for the city’s work with a federal review and for implementing its recommendations.
Supervisors questioned Hirsch on staffing figures — noting a commonly cited target of 1,971 officers and that more hires are typically required to achieve that number on the street — and on neighborhood policing policy. Hirsch said he would support community-involved processes and committees and emphasized listening to rank-and-file officers and community members.
Public commentators from unions, nonprofit boards, longtime residents and civic leaders testified in strong support of Hirsch’s temperament, civil-rights commitments and dispute-resolution experience. Speakers included Richard Butler, Steve Liebman, David Hancher and Peter Garza, who described Hirsch’s mediation background and community connections.
Supervisors debated whether to forward Hirsch with no recommendation, hold the item to consider a forthcoming supervisor appointee at the same time, or act quickly because an expiring seat would leave the Police Commission short of quorum and could delay disciplinary cases and ongoing reform work. Deputy city attorney John Gibbard told the committee there are no holdover provisions for the commission and that a vacancy will occur after April 30. The committee voted to continue the item to the call of the chair; the clerk recorded the continuance with an announced tally of "2 ayes with 1 no."
