San Francisco Supervisors Aaron Peskin, Catherine Stefani, and Matt Dorsey has introduced a charter amendment to address the city’s critical police staffing shortages, estimated to be over 500 officers. The proposal sets a new minimum staffing level and introduces the voluntary deferred retirement option program (DROP) to retain retirement-age officers and attract experienced personnel from other departments. Dorsey, a former Police Department spokesperson, emphasized the urgency of this measure.
Amid these efforts, the San Francisco Police Department has reported a significant increase in applications and recruits, attributing this trend to new hiring incentives such as increased starting pay, a shortened hiring process, and free one-day testing events. According to a January 18, 2024, news release, the department currently has three recruit classes training at the academy, the most since before the pandemic.
“Efforts to boost recruiting in San Francisco are paying off,” Chief Bill Scott stated. “The SFPD is moving in the right direction, and I’m overjoyed to see so many applicants wanting to join our department. They have begun their journey to be part of one of the most historic police forces in the nation that stands as a model for how reform and public safety go hand-in-hand.”
This new proposal follows the failure of Prop. B, a previous staffing initiative also introduced by Dorsey, which was rejected by voters in March. Prop. B aimed to allocate $30 million annually for new officer recruitment but was amended to include funding contingent on new taxes, a change Dorsey called a “poison pill.” The measure was ultimately defeated with 72% of voters opposing it.
Chief Bill Scott highlighted the success of the recruiting efforts, noting that the SFPD is moving in the right direction. The department has also seen key crime decreases, including a nearly 50% drop in car break-ins and thefts, despite the staffing shortage. The new academy class is expected to begin later this spring. The charter amendment will undergo a 30-day review before proceeding to the Rules Committee.