Rules Committee recommends Kevin Benedicto for Police Commission after oversight MOU discussion

The Rules Committee voted unanimously April 4 to forward Kevin Benedicto’s nomination for the Police Commission to the full Board of Supervisors following interviews focused on oversight and an MOU between the San Francisco Police Department and the District Attorney’s office.

Benedicto, a longtime criminal justice reform advocate who has worked on use-of-force policy revisions and Proposition E implementation, told the committee he would push to preserve the MOU because it allowed independent oversight and investigations by a dedicated DA unit. “I think the commission should work strongly to ensure that an MOU remains in place because what that MOU allowed — independent oversight, independent investigations from the D.A. unit — I think is a significant piece of the progress that has been made on police reform,” he said.

Why it matters: The MOU and the question of independent investigations were raised as central concerns by Supervisor Connie Chan, who asked each applicant how the commission should respond to the chief’s move to suspend the MOU. Committee members also probed staffing and retention challenges at the Police Department and how a commissioner balances accountability with efforts to recruit and retain officers.

Key exchanges: Supervisor Rafael Mandelmann asked whether the commission should be concerned about staffing and what measures could help attract and retain officers. Benedicto said repairing trust with communities, making commission work more visible in neighborhoods, and emphasizing partnership with command staff and rank-and-file officers are essential elements to improving morale and recruitment.

Committee action: After the interviews and discussion, the committee agreed to forward Benedicto’s nomination to the full board with a recommendation; the roll-call vote recorded unanimous support.

What’s next: Benedicto’s nomination will be considered by the full Board of Supervisors. Other applicants, including Kit (Catherine) Hodge, also addressed independent oversight and the need for continued reform work during their interviews.