Department of Justice report cites bias by San Francisco police

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A report critical of the San Francisco Police Department was released Wednesday by federal authorities saying the department has "sufficient deficiencies," and hundreds of recommendations on how to address them.

The United States Justice Department report had 94 findings and 272 recommendations. Its community policing arm, COPS, began the investigation of SFPD in February.

Mayor Ed Lee asked for the probe after six fatal officer-involved shootings last year and a text messaging scandal involving officers.

"I am proud to report the San Francisco Police Department will accept and implement every single recommendation," said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.

The report was blunt and scathing.

"There are sufficient deficiencies in of all those operational systems that we just identified," said COPS director Ron Davis

Among the deficiencies, that the SFPD had "outdated use of force policies" and that the department "lacked accountability."

"The department also does not adequately investigate the officers' use of force," Davis said.

The report also recommended arming police with stun guns, something the police commission has been grappling with.

"What learned today from the Department of Justice is Tasers is a part of that and that is something the commission will have to consider," said San Francisco Police Commission president Suzy Loftus.

Reverend Amos Brown, head of the NAACP says it'll take a lot to gain the backing of his community.

"Hold all the officers accountable. Then the community can trust. This is not happening," Brown said.

Civil rights attorney John Burris also issued a response. "The whole adage of who's policing the police is very clear. San Francisco is not policing itself," Burris said.

The police department says it'll use the report as a roadmap to reform, although much of the recommendations are already being implemented.

Click here to read the full report.



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