Rules committee backs revised SFPD equipment-use policy; public advocates press for full assault-rifle reporting

The Rules Committee voted to send to the full Board a revision to the Administrative Code requiring Board approval of policies governing the funding, acquisition and use of certain law-enforcement equipment and approving the San Francisco Police Department’s equipment-use policy as revised. Chair Peskin said the policy has gone through multiple iterations and thanked SFPD staff for working with supervisors on revisions.

Public commenters in the chamber and on the phone expressed appreciation for improvements but urged further changes to ensure transparency, clearer use definitions and full reporting. Arthur Koch, who appeared in the chamber, said the policy has improved but still needs clearer limits on authorized use and recommended setting a specific delivery date for the annual report to align with the city budget process.

Jennifer Tu of the American Friends Service Committee urged that the policy not exclude assault rifles from reporting. “This misleads the public in thinking the police only have a little bit over 200 rifles rather than the over 600 assault rifles that it actually has,” she said, and argued that every covered item should have an annual report disclosing use and fiscal impacts including personnel, training and maintenance costs. Tu also said SFPD had killed three people with assault rifles this year; that claim was presented by the commenter and not adjudicated during the hearing.

Regina Snead urged disclosure of equipment inventories and costs, clearer authorized-use standards, and tying the annual report to the budget process so the Board and public can evaluate AB 481 requirements. Chair Peskin said the ordinance aims to create a baseline and an annual oversight mechanism and that the Board could refine the policy over time. Supervisor Chan asked that annual reports include data on injuries when equipment was used.

Chair Peskin moved to send the revised policy to the full Board with a positive recommendation; roll call recorded ayes and the motion passed without objection. The SFPD representatives present (Captain Jamarina and Lieutenant Steeves) were thanked for their work and remained available for questions at later stages.