APRIL 15, 2015 REGULAR MEETING

The Police Commission of the City and County of San Francisco met in Room 400, City Hall, #1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, at 5:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Commissioners Loftus, Turman, Mazzucco, Marshall, DeJesus, Hwang, Melara

(Commissioner DeJesus arrived at 5:40 p.m.)

PUBLIC COMMENT

Reverend Brown spoke regarding an incident where two officers came to their church and stated that there were complains of too much noise and stated that the officers insulted the Black-faith community.
Rene Davis spoke in regards to a car chase incident that happened last week where innocent pedestrians are harmed. She stated that her daughter was in one of the cars involved in the incident and asked that the chase policy be revised.
Tom Silhorst complained of the commission’s behavior and asked for body cameras for officers and spoke of corruption by the city attorney.
David Elliot Lewis commented that the commission and the police have a very difficult job and spoke of the upcoming CIT Awards and thanked the Commission and the Chief for their contribution.
EW Johnson, community organizer, spoke in regards to redistricting and hopes that the Commission move the line to Polk Street.
Kevin Stall spoke in support of the redistricting lines and further spoke in regards to the recent car-chase incident involving police.
Clyde spoke in regards to bias and spoke of arrest of 34 African-American drug dealers.
Shari Taylor addressed the issue of badge cameras and asked for an independent agency to look at footage of badge cameras to enforce what is seen on the badge camera.
Betty Jones discussed concerns that she is not happy of how the commission spoke to Reverend Brown.
Oshana Thomas, Third Baptist Church, spoke on how officers drive around her neighborhood and racial profile on individuals.
Yulanda Williams, OFJ President , spoke that the text messaging is a horrific event for the police department and stated that everyone should work together to reform law enforcement.
Brenda Washington thanked the Commissioners in accommodating the community in regards to the boundary change and stated that she really appreciate that their views were considered. She thanked Commissioner Loftus and Chief Suhr for their work.
Magna Scott, Parents of Lost Love Ones to Violence, expressed concerns about violence citywide, the texting incident, and stated that it doesn’t feel good to be in San Francisco and stated that we have to stop the killing to start the healing.
Unidentified spoke of the 53 people who lost their lives in the Rodney King riots in the 1990s and stated that it is unacceptable to not let the pastor speak.
Alice Rodgers commended the Commission for their work on the redistricting and hopes that the decision will be what is recommended for District 6.
Mel Beadle, Vermont Hotel, spoke of extending the Tenderloin District to Polk Street for the safety of older residents.
Alan Gregory stated that some people should be exempt from time limits.
Emile Lawrence spoke of the appointment by the District Attorney that bypassed the Police Commission. He went on to speak about an incident where he was beat up by the police. (Document submitted)
Audrey Shull, Retired Lieutenant SF Sheriff’s Department, stated that she witnessed the interaction between the officers and Reverend Brown and talked of cultural sensitivity and asked that officers be trained and stated that there should be done about the neighbors about Third Baptist Church.
Irma Estrada asked where is the love and compassion for humans no matter what the color of your skin. She stated that Reverend Brown is her pastor and how much he has helped her.
Marion Jackson, OFJ Board Member, spoke on how the community wants a voice and asked the Commission to go out to the community to listen to the community.
Keelie spoke of disrespect. He stated that this is all a game and that nothing happens in the Commission meeting and spoke of text by members of the Commission and stated that the SFPD is an institution of racism.
Yeselia Mendez expressed outraged about killing in her community and stated that the police had called war on them and went on to talk about Alex Nieto.
Jakkee Bryson recommended that public comment be extended to three minutes. She went on to speak about a need for a police report for an incident that happened to her.
Ms. Paulette Brown spoke in regards to the homicide of her son, Aubrey Abrakasa, Jr. His case is still a cold case and spoke of other young men who were murdered. She showed the names of the individuals who murdered her son. She asked for justice for her son.
Lee Davenport discussed concerns about what is happening in San Francisco about the texting incident and spoke of how these officers are still in the Department and asked for an independent investigation.

REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Chief’s Report
- Review of recent activities

Chief Suhr spoke of Bias Training to train all captains and above and stated that all PEG presidents will be invited to this training. He spoke of recent events including a homicide incident, the car chase involving armed robbers where a pedestrian was killed. He went on to talk about the Pursuit Policy and stated that he is hopeful that those suspect will be caught and taken into custody. He went on to talk about the move to the new police headquarters.

Director Merritt presented the racial profiling data report.

Commissioner Marshall asked that this report be tabled for a future date and that copies be provided to the public and the commissioners.

b. OCC Director’s Report
- Review of recent activities

Director Hicks stated that she has no recent activities report and that next week she will be presenting the OCC Annual Report.

c. Commission Reports
- Commission President’s Report
- Commissioners’ Reports

No report.

d. Commission Announcements and scheduling of items identified for consideration at future Commission meetings

Commissioner Loftus announced that the Racial Profiling Report be set for a future date. She also asked that a date in May be set for the quarterly report on Pedestrian Safety.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Unidentified spoke on how the arrests numbers on the report are mostly of people of color and stated that there is racial profiling. He asked that the population of African Americans in San Francisco be part of the scale.
Ms. Cruz, (through an interpreter) represent Latin Voice of the Tenderloin, spoke of district boundary recommendations in the Tenderloin and stated that they are starting to feel safer with the recommendations on the district boundary lines and thanked the Commission for listening to the voice of the community.
Unidentified spoke of the report on race and that it is a lie and requested that the next time the report is presented the number of people described and number of people arrested be separated based on race and stated that the report is inaccurate and asked to have the numbers clear on what race are being arrested and what race are going behind bars.
Anna Shasker spoke of the racial profiling report
Mr. Mohammed spoke of reports and studies and how reports gets us in trouble and asked for an outside agency to come in.
Michelle spoke of how things has changed so much and spoke of how her son has been racially profiled and stated that it is really disturbing to watch what is happening with young black men .
Unidentified spoke of how young black men are taught to act when dealing with the police and spoke of the need for more police of color.
Dede Hewitt discussed her concerns about oversight committee and asked for training and more oversight and that there should be justice for everyone and asked that the OCC’s capacity be increased.
Vanessa, Bayview Hunters Point community, spoke of how young men are being killed and how police are setting up young men to get them arrested and spoke of actions by Officer Ellis.

DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE NEW DISTRICT STATION BOUNDARIES, OR TAKE OTHER ACTION, IF NECESSARY

Randy McClure, Controller’s Office, presented the district station boundaries report.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Gail Searaves, Elk Hotel, thanked the Commission and the Chief for listening to them and their concerns for the Tenderloin.
Mark Shawyer, DuBoce Neighborhood Association, stated that it is a very small area and that they belong with Park Station and that they will get a faster response from Park.
Kat asked that DuBoce Triangle be kept in the Park Station and went on to commend Park Station for their work in getting to know the neighborhood and sated that the station keeps the perception of people feeling safe on the streets.
Unidentified spoke that since the triangle is calmer than Northern and that moving them to Northern would make the surrounding areas calmer.
Jakkee Bryson supports the redistricting and stated that it needs to happen and appreciated all the time everybody has put into this and recommended that a report regarding the changes be made in six months.

Motion by Commissioner Melara, second by Commissioner DeJesus to approve Option 6.

AYES: Commissioners Loftus, Turman, DeJesus, Mazzucco, Hwang, Melara
ABSENT: Commissioner Marshall

PUBLIC COMMENT ON ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO CLOSED SESSION

Unidentified stated that matters should be in open session.

VOTE ON WHETHER TO HOLD CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Commissioner Mazzucco, second by Commissioner Melara. Approved 6-0.

CLOSED SESSION (7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
- PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: Chief of Police
Review of findings and Chief’s decision to return or not return officers to duty following an in-custody death (ICD 15-001)
(PRESENT: Commissioners Loftus, Turman, Marshall, Mazzucco, DeJesus, Hwang, Chief Suhr, Deputy Chief Sainez, City Attorney Porianda, Inspector Monroe, Risa Tom)

Put over for future date.

- PERSONNEL EXCEPTION: Status and calendaring of pending disciplinary cases
(PRESENT: Commissioners Loftus, Turman, Marshall, Mazzucco, DeJesus, Hwang, Melara, Inspector Monroe, Risa Tom)


VOTE TO ELECT WHETHER TO DISCLOSE ANY OR ALL DISCUSSION HELD IN CLOSED SESSION

Motion by Commissioner Marshall, second by Commissioner Melara for non- disclosure. Approved 7-0.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Commissioner DeJesus, second by Commissioner Mazzucco. Approved 7-0.

Thereafter, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.


__________________________________________
Inspector John Monroe
Secretary
San Francisco Police Commission