Mayor Lee’s Statement on U.S. Department of Justice’s Review of San Francisco Police Department Reforms
Mayor Edwin M. Lee today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Justice review of the San Francisco Police Department reforms:
“Back on January 21, 2016, I asked United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch for a full U.S. Department of Justice review of our Police Department’s use-of-force policy reforms as well as a Civil Rights investigation into the Mario Woods shooting.
Today, we received initial feedback back from the Department of Justice and their experts on the draft reforms of the Department’s Use of Force policies. DOJ’s feedback is that we are making progress, but we have more work to do to improve our policies and build trust with the community. Specifically, DOJ reports that the open process we under took to involve community perspective in the policy development promotes accountability and transparency. In addition, they provided a number of comments on the reforms as well as suggestions for possible action that came from the President’s 21st Century Policing Report.
We welcome DOJ’s honest feedback, and we will incorporate their recommendations into our policies and pursue other best practices suggested for consideration.
Among the many next steps to improve our use of force policies, I am directing the Police Commission to work with DOJ and other best practice cities in acting on the initial report’s request for the Commission to consider a Serious Incidents Review Board in an effort provide greater oversight by the community and civilians over serious instances of police use of force. We will also be exploring having State and Federal Departments of Justice perform the criminal investigations into officer-involved shootings, another consideration suggested by DOJ.
As with all our reforms, the Police Department, the Police Commission and my office are committed to continue working with community leaders to build trust and refine these reforms.
I am also announcing that we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DOJ’s Community Oriented Policing Services office to begin the extensive collaborative review of not just our use of force policies, but all of our policing practices. We continue to invite transparency and accountability in this process.
Finally, we just received another letter from DOJ in response to my request for an investigation, sent months ago, confirming that they will not begin a Civil Rights investigation into the Mario Woods shooting until after the local investigation is complete. While I disagree with the decision to delay an independent investigation, I respect DOJ’s decision. Nonetheless, I continue to welcome this investigation whenever DOJ deems it appropriate.”
“Back on January 21, 2016, I asked United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch for a full U.S. Department of Justice review of our Police Department’s use-of-force policy reforms as well as a Civil Rights investigation into the Mario Woods shooting.
Today, we received initial feedback back from the Department of Justice and their experts on the draft reforms of the Department’s Use of Force policies. DOJ’s feedback is that we are making progress, but we have more work to do to improve our policies and build trust with the community. Specifically, DOJ reports that the open process we under took to involve community perspective in the policy development promotes accountability and transparency. In addition, they provided a number of comments on the reforms as well as suggestions for possible action that came from the President’s 21st Century Policing Report.
We welcome DOJ’s honest feedback, and we will incorporate their recommendations into our policies and pursue other best practices suggested for consideration.
Among the many next steps to improve our use of force policies, I am directing the Police Commission to work with DOJ and other best practice cities in acting on the initial report’s request for the Commission to consider a Serious Incidents Review Board in an effort provide greater oversight by the community and civilians over serious instances of police use of force. We will also be exploring having State and Federal Departments of Justice perform the criminal investigations into officer-involved shootings, another consideration suggested by DOJ.
As with all our reforms, the Police Department, the Police Commission and my office are committed to continue working with community leaders to build trust and refine these reforms.
I am also announcing that we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the DOJ’s Community Oriented Policing Services office to begin the extensive collaborative review of not just our use of force policies, but all of our policing practices. We continue to invite transparency and accountability in this process.
Finally, we just received another letter from DOJ in response to my request for an investigation, sent months ago, confirming that they will not begin a Civil Rights investigation into the Mario Woods shooting until after the local investigation is complete. While I disagree with the decision to delay an independent investigation, I respect DOJ’s decision. Nonetheless, I continue to welcome this investigation whenever DOJ deems it appropriate.”