Here's how SFPD is proposing to cut down on overtime
San Francisco's interim police chief is proposing changes that he says will increase the number of officers fighting crime while also reducing the department's massive overtime spending.
Yep, who recently took over from Chief Bill Scott, told the Board of Supervisors during a special budget meeting on Friday that he wants to start using retired police officers to staff a police reserve unit and special event officer program. The program would supplement police staffing and potentially cut down on the need for as much overtime as the department deals with what it says is a shortage of hundreds of officers.
The number of police officers earning more than $100,000 in overtime more than tripled from 2021 to 2023, fueling concerns about officer performance, burnout and unsustainable taxpayer expenses.
The chief's proposal comes as city officials pour over Mayor Daniel Lurie's proposed budget, which must close a roughly $800 million deficit. The plan calls for laying off over 100 workers, eliminating hundreds of vacant positions and cutting nearly $200 million in grant funds and contracts. The mayor's budget retains funding for police, fire and other public safety agencies as part of his pledge to revitalize the city by focusing on safety and the economy.
The Board of Supervisors will hear from every city department throughout June and propose changes for the mayor to consider. The mayor must sign the budget by Aug. 1.
Yep said retired officers in the new reserve unit will have full police powers and be assigned based on experience, whether that's working a foot beat or doing behind-the-scenes investigative work for the department.
Meanwhile, retirees in the special events officer program would be assigned to specific events, such as Super Bowl celebrations, protests or festivals, and also have full police powers. The plan also calls for retaining the department's existing community ambassador program staffed by unarmed retirees on foot patrols in neighborhoods the department struggles to staff.
Yep admitted he's still working on the details, but that the programs 'would give our current officers a break from mandatory overtime.'
The department said the move would mean increasing the temporary salary budget from $3.4 million to $8.1 million. As a result, the department's proposed overtime budget would grow from $71 million to about $80 million. But Yep explained that by paying retirees a flat rate that is less than the overtime rate, the move will eventually yield savings.
In May, San Francisco supervisors lambasted the department over its apparent inability to rein in public safety costs but ultimately approved $61 million in funds for overtime spending.
A recent audit found that SFPD's overtime spending more than doubled from $52.9 million in 2018 to $108.4 million in 2023. The audit also found that about 12% of the cops who worked overtime were responsible for nearly a third of all SFPD overtime spending in the last year of the review.
The department is also trying to save money by laying off six people in its civilian workforce and will eliminate 25 vacant civilian positions.
Still, Supervisor Connie Chan, who chairs the Board of Supervisors budget committee, said that the department needs to do more to help close budget gaps. Chan is worried about social services funding that's on the chopping block in Lurie's proposed budget.
Chan said the department should lower overtime spending and asked Yep to consider eliminating civilian management positions to find more savings.
'It's regrettable to hear about layoffs of some of the police department staff, particularly civilians,' Chan said. 'But I'm saying this to every department. I'd really like for you to work with us to evaluate the need for certain management positions. I know it's tough… but consider… are those necessary?'
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