Inside the majestic Rotunda at City Hall, Scott became the city's 43rd police chief. "I share with you the vision and the desire for a safe city that is policed in a professional and compassionate manner," he said.
FULL INTERVIEW: Bill Scott discusses new job as SFPD chief with ABC7 News Reporter Carolyn Tyler
VIDEO: Bill Scott interview after being sworn in
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Several colleagues from Los Angeles, where Scott spent 27 years, came to applaud him, including LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. "He helped us through the Consent Decree. He helped see us through the turbulent of the 90s," Beck said.
RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: SFPD Chief Bill Scott discusses department's future
The San Francisco Police Department is grappling with officer-involved shootings, a new use of force policy the union is challenging and more than 200 reforms recommended by the Department of Justice.
"The DOJ recommendations and initiatives are only designed, in my opinion, to make us better at our bottom line and our bottom line is keeping the city safe," Scott said in an interview with ABC7 News Reporter Carolyn Tyler.
Scott is only the third chief in San Francisco's 167-year history selected from outside the department and he knows the learning curve will be steep.
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"It's almost like stepping on a treadmill that's fully in motion and there's a way to do that, believe me, because I've tried this. There's a way to do that. You turn it down just enough to allow you to get on so you don't fall and them you turn it up full speed," he said.
Someone who understands some of the challenges Scott faces is former Chief Greg Suhr. "I think his very quiet, calm, demeanor energy, I think it's just going to serve him well," he said.
That composure was on full display as a few hecklers tried but failed to disrupt his ceremony on Monday.
VIDEO: New SFPD chief sworn in at City Hall
SFPD Chief Bill Scott sworn in at City Hall
FULL VIDEO: Mayor Ed Lee announcing Bill Scott as new SFPD Chief
William Scott named new SFPD chief
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