Police Commission

In-Custody Deaths Policy Adopted 7-0 After Expedited Union Negotiation

The commission unanimously adopted revised DGO 8.12 on in-custody deaths, effective April 16, 2026, following an expedited meet-and-confer process with the police union.

Why it matters: The updated policy establishes new SFPD procedures for handling deaths in police custody, a high-profile accountability issue nationally.

SFPD Inventories Military Equipment, Seeks Second Armored Vehicle and More Drones

The department's annual AB 481 report detailed 98 drones deployed 1,122 times, one Bearcat armored vehicle used 42 times, and plans to acquire additional equipment via grants.

Why it matters: The report heads next to the Board of Supervisors for approval, and commissioners signaled they want more granular data on when and why the Bearcat and drones are deployed.

DPA Hits Zero Missed Deadlines as Complaint Volume Stays Elevated

DPA complaints fell 20% in early 2026, but remain 10% above pre-surge levels, while the agency maintains 197 open cases and zero missed statutory deadlines.

Why it matters: The efficiency gains may be tested if SFPD clears its chief-hearing backlog and sends a wave of sustained cases to DPA, all while the agency navigates potential budget cuts.

Chief Defends New Promotion Criteria That Look Beyond Test Scores

Chief Lew explained a departure from strict rank-order promotions, adding interviews and resume reviews as secondary criteria to select the most qualified sergeants and commanders.

Why it matters: The new approach — the first change in nearly eight years — affects career paths for hundreds of officers and may reshape SFPD leadership demographics for a generation.

Homicides Surge Ninefold as City Loses Key Violence Intervention Funding

San Francisco has recorded nine homicides year-to-date versus one last year, and the department lost CalVIP funding for community-based gun violence intervention.

Why it matters: The loss of CalVIP funding coincides with citywide budget cuts to youth programs, raising fears that a critical gap in violence intervention will worsen the homicide spike heading into summer.

Academy Classes Top 100 Recruits as Applications Hit Five-Year Weekly High

SFPD welcomed its 289th recruit class of 39 officers, pushing academy enrollment past 100, as January applications set an all-time monthly record of 803.

Why it matters: After years of staffing shortages, the recruiting surge could reshape SFPD's capacity to implement community policing and foot beats — if the department can reduce historically high academy attrition.

Language Access Policy Overhaul Advances With Renewed Stakeholder Input

DPA joined the first of three working group sessions to update DGO 5.20 on language access, with all original community stakeholders returning to the table.

Why it matters: Commissioner Tekkey separately pulled the LEP annual report from consent for a standalone presentation, signaling that language access remains a high-priority oversight issue for the commission.

Disciplinary Review Board: Flock Database Misuse, Purchasing Violations, and Policy Updates

The Q3 2025 DRB identified four policy failures across IAD and DPA. IAD Policy Failure 1: A member used the Flock license plate reader database to search for their spouse's stolen vehicle, constituting a conflict of interest. An image from Flock appeared on a personal Instagram account. The DRB recommended expanding DGO 2.01.03 Rule 19 on conflict of interest to clearly prohibit members from conducting any investigation where a conflict exists. IAD Policy Failure 2: A whistleblower complaint revealed a member circumvented city purchasing policies for years by using personal credit cards and seeking reimbursement, potentially earning personal rewards points. DPA Policy Failure 1: A decoy vehicle was left in a Union Square red zone for an extended period with no clear policy governing parking duration or responsibility. DPA Policy Failure 2: Seized cell phones were lost due to inadequate property processing under DGO 6.15, which has not been updated since 1994. DGO 6.15 is scheduled for concurrence on March 11. Vice President Benedicto and Director Steeves discussed the DGO revision process, including a proposed limited revision carve-out in a forthcoming update to DGO 3.01 that would allow surgical policy changes without opening full review cycles.