Rules Committee backs reappointments of Susie Loftus and Thomas Mazuko to Police Commission

The Rules Committee on Thursday voted to send positive recommendations to the full Board of Supervisors for the reappointments of Police Commission President Susie Loftus and Commissioner Thomas Mazuko, after lengthy hearings focused on use‑of‑force reform, officer discipline and community engagement.

Susie Loftus, speaking to the committee, said she was seeking reappointment to continue work “to make sustained and important change for this police department.” She outlined priorities including rooting out explicit and implicit bias, embedding procedural justice in hiring and promotion, and reengineering use‑of‑force policies to reduce lethal shootings while increasing transparency and community trust.

Loftus described steps the commission has taken since high‑profile incidents last year, including a six‑month effort to develop a body‑worn camera policy and an ongoing review of use‑of‑force rules after the December 2015 shooting that prompted broad public concern. “We are awaiting DOJ’s recommendations,” she said, and added the commission will hold additional community meetings before final votes.

Committee members pressed Loftus on the wording of new use‑of‑force language and de‑escalation requirements. Supervisor Eric Marr asked whether policy should require officers to “shall” de‑escalate rather than merely encourage it. Loftus said the initial drafts included “minimal use of force” language that had been revised in the deliberative process, and she urged clear language that officers “shall de‑escalate unless it is not feasible or safe” (discussion summarized from committee exchange).

Supervisor Malia Cohen pressed on operational follow‑through: how departmental general orders will be enforced, how crisis intervention team (CIT) training is dispatched, and when body cameras will be implemented. Loftus said the commission treats general orders as mandatory and that the U.S. Department of Justice is working with the city to help ensure training and station‑level implementation. She reported that CIT training had been expanded, noting an updated count of officers trained.

Thomas (Tippi) Mazuko, also before the committee for reappointment, emphasized his experience as a prosecutor and commissioner and his work on early‑intervention systems and crisis intervention training. Mazuko said his priorities included preventing officer burnout, improving mental‑health supports for officers, and strengthening the commission’s disciplinary capacity. He described a multifaceted approach to cultural problems in the department—hiring, early‑intervention flags, training and, where necessary, discipline.

Both nominees faced public comment support from a broad cross‑section of the city: neighborhood groups, advocacy organizations, victims’‑rights advocates, police unions and peer commissioners described the nominees’ work on Vision Zero, domestic‑violence protocols, district redrawing and CIT. Multiple speakers urged the Board to reappoint each candidate so ongoing policy work could continue without interruption.

Committee members moved the nominations to the full Board as positive committee reports for consideration at upcoming meetings. The committee took the motions without objection, advancing both reappointments to the Board of Supervisors for final confirmation.

The committee report will be considered by the full Board at a scheduled session; the Rules Committee noted the packet will appear on the Board’s 04/19/2016 (Loftus) and related agendas. No final Board confirmation occurred at the Rules Committee meeting.