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San Francisco is desperately short of more than 500 police officers and 200 sheriff’s deputies, forcing the city to spend a staggering $108 million on overtime while crime remains rampant in the once-beautiful Bay Area city.
Key Takeaways
- San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has issued an executive order to address critical staffing shortages of over 500 police officers and 200 sheriff’s deputies
- The city spent $108 million on police overtime in 2022-2023 due to understaffing, with another $91 million approved by the Board of Supervisors
- Lurie’s plan includes allowing retired officers to return without losing pensions, streamlining hiring processes, and moving officers from administrative to patrol duties
- The staffing crisis has resulted in reduced neighborhood police presence and slower response times to emergency calls
- The initiative follows historically low police department staffing levels in the aftermath of the 2020 anti-police movement
Critical Staffing Shortages Plague San Francisco Law Enforcement
San Francisco’s police department is operating at critically low staffing levels, with fewer than 1,500 full-duty officers available – more than 500 below recommended minimums. The sheriff’s department faces similar challenges, short nearly 200 deputies. These staffing deficits have created a public safety crisis in a city already struggling with crime, homelessness, and drug use. The shortages have forced the city to rely heavily on costly overtime, spending an unsustainable $108 million in the 2022-2023 fiscal year just to maintain basic service levels.
“Right now, San Francisco has fewer than 1,500 full-duty police officers, more than 500 below the recommended staffing level. The Sheriff’s Office is short nearly 200 deputies. That means fewer officers and deputies walking our neighborhoods, slower response times and a growing dependence on costly and unsustainable overtime,” said Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco.
The shortages have severely impacted the department’s ability to perform its core duties. Response times have increased significantly, neighborhood police presence has diminished, and officers are overworked as they attempt to cover the gaps. The situation has become so dire that the Board of Supervisors recently approved an additional $91 million specifically for overtime costs for both the police and sheriff’s departments – money that could be better spent on permanent solutions rather than stopgap measures.
Mayor’s Bold 100-Day Action Plan to Rebuild Law Enforcement
Mayor Daniel Lurie has implemented a comprehensive strategy to address the staffing crisis through his “Rebuilding the Ranks” executive order. The plan outlines specific actions over three timeframes – 100 days, six months, and one year – with immediate focus on quickly bolstering the ranks through innovative approaches. One key initiative allows retired officers to return to service without sacrificing their pensions, creating an immediate pathway to bring experienced officers back to the streets.
“We have been living on overtime, and that is not sustainable. We’re fortunate that we have the overtime and that the Board and the mayor has granted us that funding to fill in the gaps, but we know that’s not a sustainable model,” said Bill Scott, Police Chief.
The mayor’s plan also calls for streamlining the notoriously slow hiring process, reforming police academy practices to increase throughput, and expanding the use of technology to reduce administrative burdens on officers. Additionally, the initiative seeks to move officers from desk jobs back to patrol duties, replacing them with civilian personnel for administrative tasks. These immediate actions aim to quickly increase the number of officers available for emergency response and neighborhood patrols.
Addressing Systemic Issues and Fiscal Responsibility
Beyond the immediate staffing crisis, Lurie’s plan takes aim at systemic issues that have plagued the department. A recent audit found alarming violations of overtime limits and potential sick leave abuse, prompting a comprehensive investigation into employment practices. The city will review the controversial “10(b)” program, which allows officers to work as private security for businesses while on the city payroll – a practice that has drawn criticism for pulling resources away from public safety duties.
“These shortfalls have significantly strained these departments’ ability to fulfill their core responsibilities,” said Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco.
The plan has received cautious support from various stakeholders, including Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, who expressed optimism about its potential to reduce overtime and improve public safety. However, some supervisors have raised concerns about accountability measures. Supervisor Fielder noted, “I’m glad the mayor is taking the concerns I and other supervisors raised two weeks ago after an audit found a severe lack of accountability for SFPD overtime, sick leave, and the use of the 10B program which enables officers to work for private entities rather than public taxpayers.”
When public safety is a core function of government and we’re short 500 police officers for a city our size, we must get creative. Relying on overtime is not an option. That’s why I’m supporting Mayor Lurie’s executive directive to address our public safety staffing crisis.
To… pic.twitter.com/NL5LZqNOWI
— Joel Engardio (@JoelEngardio) May 13, 2025
Rebuilding After Anti-Police Sentiment
The staffing crisis didn’t happen overnight. San Francisco’s police department has struggled to attract and retain officers since the 2020 George Floyd incident sparked nationwide anti-police sentiment, particularly in progressive cities. The resulting “defund the police” movement, coupled with San Francisco’s already challenging political climate for law enforcement, created a perfect storm that led to mass departures and recruiting difficulties. Now the city is facing the consequences of those policies as crime has flourished in understaffed areas.
“All retirees, hear me clearly. You won’t have to give up your pensions. You can come and work, help the safety in this city and still make a little money on the side and help our deployment situation,” said Bill Scott, Police Chief.
The initiative represents a significant shift in San Francisco’s approach to public safety, acknowledging that the previous strategy of reducing police presence has failed to create a safer city. By committing to fully staffing both the police and sheriff’s departments, Mayor Lurie is tackling one of the most pressing issues facing San Francisco residents and businesses. Whether the plan can overcome years of anti-police sentiment and successfully rebuild the ranks remains to be seen, but the clear focus on public safety represents a welcome change for a city desperately in need of more law enforcement presence.