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Public commenters tell commission of alleged trafficking and surveillance; commission records complaints
Summary
During public comment several speakers alleged encrypted transmissions linked to trafficking, coercive actions at workplaces, SFPD misconduct (cash payments) and widespread surveillance; commenters asked for investigations and for city watchdogs to act; the claims were heard but not adjudicated at the meeting.
SAN FRANCISCO — Several members of the public used allotted comment time at the March 12 Police Commission meeting to make detailed, sometimes competing allegations including claims of encrypted data transmissions linked to human trafficking, personal claims of abduction and false evidence, and assertions that surveillance equipment is in use in the city.
A public commenter who identified themselves as a former Flexport employee said they discovered "encrypted data transmissions to Russia and cargo ship manifests listing hundreds of female names" and said they reported these findings to company management in 2021. The commenter alleged subsequent harassment, a staged set of photos intended to falsely implicate them in trafficking, and later surveillance; they also alleged witnessing "two sworn SFPD officers accepting $2,000 cash payments" (as they described). The commenter said they had medical documentation and asked the commission for assistance. The transcript records the speaker's statements as allegations made during public comment; no commission action or investigation was opened in the meeting minutes.
Another commenter described contacting federal and Marine Corps entities about surveillance equipment and urged escalation to the city attorney's office, mentioning an individual named Mike Maxwell who, the commenter alleged, had previously been investigated by the commission and should not be given credentials related to police surveillance tools. The commenter said they were sharing their information with the U.S. Department of Justice.
The commission accepted the public comments, enforced time limits, and did not take immediate action on these allegations during the meeting. Executive Director Paul Henderson and Chief Scott were in attendance and acknowledged receipt of public comment but did not provide investigative findings at the hearing.
Status: These are public allegations recorded in the meeting transcript. The commission did not announce an internal investigation or finding on these specific claims during the March 12 open session; follow-up would require formal intake through appropriate investigative channels and is therefore unresolved as of the end of the meeting.
