Politics
San Francisco Prop F would let mayor dismiss Police Commission appointees without board approval
Proposition F would remove the Board of Supervisors’ role in approving the dismissal of Police Commission members, a change critics say could expose decisions on police discipline to political pressure. The measure also shifts appointment power for the city’s police-accountability director to the commission.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s Proposition F would allow him to remove his appointees to the Police Commission without approval from the Board of Supervisors, changing a safeguard intended to limit political influence over police discipline.
The seven-member commission sets police policy and hears evidence in misconduct cases, including cases that could result in officers being fired. The mayor appoints four members and the Board of Supervisors appoints three. Under current law, the board must approve the removal of a commissioner.
Prop F would let the mayor and the board remove their respective appointees to most city boards and commissions without cause. The Board of Appeals, Civil Service Commission and Ethics Commission would be exempt. The measure would also give the Police Commission, rather than the mayor, authority to appoint the director of the Department of Police Accountability, which independently investigates complaints of police misconduct.
A mailer from Lurie’s “Clean Up City Hall” campaign describes the proposal as preserving “fully independent watchdogs.” The campaign has also suggested in other communications that Prop F would not affect the Police Commission’s independence. Lurie adviser Max Szabo acknowledged that the campaign had made mistakes in some communications and said it would use clearer language. He also confirmed the mayor supports changing the commissioner-removal process.
Supporters say elected officials should be able to dismiss appointees whose performance they oppose. Police Commission President Don Clay, a retired judge, said the proposal would “level the playing field” between mayoral and board appointees.
Opponents warn that removing the approval requirement could make commissioners vulnerable when they make politically unpopular decisions. Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, who signed the official argument supporting Prop F, has acknowledged the change to the removal process. At an April committee meeting, he cautioned against commissioners fearing dismissal for their disciplinary decisions: “We do not want police commissions dispensing discipline to members of the police department with the fear that if they make a politically unpopular call, they’re going to get fired the next day.”
The measure is part of Lurie’s “Clean Up City Hall” ballot package, which also includes Propositions D and E. Those proposals would change rules for qualifying local ballot measures and city contracting, respectively. Proposition F’s debate centers on a broader question for voters: how to balance elected officials’ authority over their appointees with protections for independent oversight of police conduct.