Police Training Class Opens, Largest in Four Years

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining Police Chief Bill Scott to welcome the largest class of recruits to the San Francisco Police Department since 2018. This marks a significant achievement in our personnel staffing plan, showcasing our progress in recruitment and hiring.

The 284th class has 50 new recruits who began their training last Monday, alongside the 283rd class that started in May. This year, the San Francisco Police Academy is on track to see the highest number of new recruits since the pandemic hit in 2020, followed by a nationwide crisis in police hiring and retention.

This new cohort consists of 22% women and 78% men. Among the recruits, 34% identify as White, 32% as Asian, 26% as Hispanic, 4% as Black, and another 4% belong to other ethnic backgrounds.

My staffing plan aims to ensure the San Francisco Police Department reaches full staffing levels by 2026. To achieve this goal, we’ve invested in new contracts and implemented targeted reforms to shorten the hiring process, prioritizing police recruitment.

Last year, I also negotiated a new contract with the San Francisco Police Officers Association, making our department one of the highest-paying police agencies in the nation. This has helped us attract applicants back to the levels seen in 2018 and draw experienced officers from other jurisdictions.

I’ve also taken steps to enhance our recruitment process, which has accelerated the replenishment of the academy personnel, including:

– Directing the Human Resources Department and the Auditor’s office to assist in expediting the hiring process.
– Recalling retired officers to conduct background checks.
– Contracting with private firms to speed up background investigations.
– Restructuring internal processes within the San Francisco Police Department to improve hiring efficiency.

In addition to this new class of recruits, the department continues to onboard officers from other jurisdictions. These experienced officers undergo shorter training and are quickly integrated into our force.

Our staffing efforts are progressing as planned, thanks to significant investments and reforms in our recruitment process. Having more officers on the streets to respond quickly when crime occurs is vital for community safety. While a full-staffed police department is a key element of our public safety strategy, it’s not the only part. We are also deploying new technologies, utilizing alternative law enforcement resources, and allocating funds for violence prevention and community building initiatives. I want to express my gratitude to the newest members of our police force and all current officers serving our community.

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the San Francisco Police Department, please visit our website at: https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/your-sfpd/careers.

Feel free to connect with me on WeChat for updates and resources: londonbreed.

Best,
London Breed
Mayor of San Francisco