Rules Committee advances amended '10A' ordinance to let sheriff contract for supplemental law-enforcement services; item continued to Nov. 8

Supervisor Safaei introduced Ordinance 10A as a response to organized retail theft and business concerns and said the measure would allow the Sheriff’s Office to be hired to provide supplemental, fixed-post law-enforcement services similar to the SFPD’s existing 10B program. Safaei said he witnessed repeated, coordinated thefts at retail locations and described the legislation as a complement to rehabilitation efforts rather than a return to mass incarceration.

Sheriff Paul Miyamoto told the committee the Sheriff’s Office supports the legislation and described a plan to align 10A policies and procedures with SFPD general orders. Miyamoto highlighted existing contract experience—deputies frequently work fixed-post assignments for events and facilities—and said deputies receive additional mandated training, including crisis intervention training (CIT) and advanced annual training. He added the department has trained more than 200 staff in CIT so far and aims to exceed state minimums for recurring training.

Chief Bill Scott of the San Francisco Police Department said SFPD has been unable to meet all off-duty security requests and welcomed coordination with the Sheriff’s Office to meet unmet demand. Scott and Miyamoto both emphasized communication and a common radio system to avoid operational gaps.

Sponsor Safaei described several amendments circulated to committee members: replacing the term “event organizer” with “requester” to clarify who can contract services, expanding the definition to include special events and occasional occurrences, and adding eligibility restrictions for department members (for example, barring members who have used excessive sick leave or comp time from participating to prevent double-dipping). Safaei also said any deputies assigned would carry only standard-issued equipment and that tasers were explicitly excluded from use in the program.

Multiple callers during public comment—Lieutenant Michael Zayner, Juan Garrido, DSA President Ken Lamba, a UFCW Local 6-48 representative, and retired Deputy Christian Cabassaras—voiced support for the measure, saying deputy presence reduces retail theft, helps protect frontline workers and seniors, and can link arrestees to services the Sheriff’s Office provides while people are in custody and after release.

A caller, David Pilpel, asked several procedural and transparency questions: how the program relates to the Sheriff’s Department oversight board, whether requesters could shop between 10A and 10B based on cost or service level, deadlines for requesting service, the extent to which security and staffing plans would be publicly disclosed, and whether the program would be limited to events or available for ongoing assignments. Supervisor Safaei responded that the ordinance provides for an oversight committee with members appointed by the Board president and the mayor and that the Office of Inspector General would provide additional monitoring.

Deputy City Attorney Pearson informed the committee the circulated amendments were substantive and therefore required at least a one-week continuance for re-noticing. On that basis, the committee voted to accept the amendments and—by roll call—voted to continue the item to the Rules Committee meeting on Nov. 8 to allow publication and further review.

What happens next: the committee approved the amendments and continued the ordinance for at least one week so the public can review the substantive changes. The Nov. 8 meeting will reopen the item for further discussion and possible final recommendation to the full Board.

Quotes used in this article are attributed only to speakers who appear in the hearing record.