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Board honors interim Police Chief Paul Yap for leadership during transitional year
Summary
Supervisors, the mayor, district attorney and sheriff praised Chief Paul Yap for stabilizing SFPD, recruiting officers, and strengthening partnerships; Yap highlighted crime reductions, a new real‑time investigation center and efforts to increase officer staffing.
The Board of Supervisors formally recognized interim San Francisco Police Chief Paul Yap on Tuesday for his year of service overseeing the department through a period of transition.
Supervisor Dorsey introduced the commendation, saying Yap provided steady leadership during high‑level retirements and helped the department 'navigate a generational changing of the guard.' Mayor Daniel Lurie called Yap "a bridge to this next generation of leadership" and credited him with helping make San Francisco among the safest years on record in 2025.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto also praised Yap’s collaboration with the DA’s office and county law‑enforcement partners. Several supervisors thanked Yap for rapid operational steps — including deploying officers to burglary hotspots and advancing a safe gun‑storage program — and for work on recruitment: Yap noted the SFPD Academy had four full classes in a row and that the department saw its first net increase in officers on patrol since the pandemic.
Yap, speaking to the board, highlighted department accomplishments including a 25–30% decrease in measured crime categories, the opening of a new real‑time investigation center (ARTC), and large drug‑enforcement seizures credited to federal partnerships. "It has been an honor of a lifetime," Yap said, thanking officers and community partners.
The board presented Yap with a ceremonial recognition and invited the mayor, DA and sheriff to speak. Officials said Yap will continue in city roles and remain engaged with department priorities.
Next steps: the board’s commendation is a formal acknowledgment; departmental recruitment and collaboration efforts discussed will continue under the new permanent chief and command staff.
