San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today announced she will appoint Suzy Loftus to serve as District Attorney (DA) for the City and County of San Francisco. Mayor Breed made the announcement in Chinatown surrounded by community advocates, justice reformers, civic leaders and families.

Loftus, who currently serves as Legal Counsel for San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, has over a decade of experience in San Francisco law enforcement. She will serve for the remainder of the current term, following District Attorney George Gascón’s resignation on October 18. District Attorney Gascón announced yesterday he would vacate the office months early to move to Los Angeles, where he intends to run for DA. 

Loftus served as a prosecutor in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office from 2005 to 2010, where she focused on prosecution of domestic violence, elder abuse and illegal firearms cases, and helped to build the Neighborhood DA program. In 2012, she was appointed to serve on the Police Commission, where she was elected by her colleagues to serve as President. While on the Police Commission, Loftus centered a community approach and improved the Police Department’s response to domestic violence against women and children, reformed the Department’s use of force policies, instituted body-worn cameras, and increased pedestrian safety on the streets.

Previously, Loftus helped to build the Center for Youth Wellness in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, which serves youth impacted by violence and trauma. In her service as a Special Assistant Attorney General under then-Attorney General Kamala Harris, she led a statewide initiative in partnership with Stanford University to provide implicit bias training to law enforcement across California.

“There is no more qualified person to serve as District Attorney than Suzy Loftus,” said Mayor Breed. “I hear from residents every day who are frustrated by the endless cycle of people getting arrested for dealing drugs, or breaking into cars, only to be released back out on the streets. With Suzy, I have a partner who can make sure that people are held accountable for their actions and who will continue our work to reform our criminal justice system.”

“It is the honor of my life to serve as the people’s prosecutor,” said Suzy Loftus. “I’m ready to tackle our public safety challenges head on. I’m going to build a world-class law office with prosecutors who will work together with law enforcement, community advocates and City Hall leaders to shape solutions that hold people accountable and get San Franciscans struggling with mental health and drug abuse challenges the help they need. Working together with Mayor Breed, the Police Department, and the community, we can tackle the challenges and achieve safety and justice for the people of San Francisco. Change starts now, and I am ready to get to work.”

“Suzy Loftus is the leader San Francisco needs. She is the most qualified person to make our community safe,” said Florence Kong, a Chinatown community leader who spoke at the press conference. “She has stood with us for many years. We have seen an unacceptable rise in crime and violence impacting the lives of residents and small business corridors in Chinatown and Visitacion Valley, and Suzy has met and listened to the community. She will work with us to address the safety concerns of our merchants, seniors, and residents.”

“I know Suzy Loftus is the best person to address the challenges of our City,” said Tami Carter, a westside resident who spoke at the press conference. “Her kids attend the same San Francisco public schools as mine and our eldest daughters were on the same soccer team for six years. I’ve watched as Suzy has worked tirelessly to build a better San Francisco for all of us, no matter the zip code, and her efforts have been an inspiration. Suzy’s experience will ensure that the District Attorney’s office fulfills its mission of ensuring a safe and just San Francisco.”

“We deserve a DA’s office in San Francisco who is truly progressive and committed to building safety for all of us, no matter the zip code,” said Tinisch Hollins, California State Director, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. “Suzy’s guiding principle is lifting up survivors, and she will ensure a survivor-centered approach to achieving justice. Real and lasting change is going to be built from the ground up, and Suzy has walked this walk her entire career.”

“I trust Suzy Loftus to be a District Attorney who will stand with and fight for working people in San Francisco. The Labor Community needs a champion,” said Olga Miranda, President of SEIU Local 87 and Officer of the San Francisco Labor Council. “So many crimes against hard working people—particularly women—go unnoticed and unreported. We need to build a system that takes care of everyone. Suzy is the leader that will bring light to the invisible—we need to make sure everyone is protected.”

Loftus is a first generation American and native San Franciscan who lives in the Outer Sunset with her husband Tom and her three daughters. She will serve the remainder of the current term through January 2020, and is running for election for a full term in the November 5 election. She will be the first mother to serve as San Francisco’s District Attorney.

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