SF mayor signs legislation allowing deputies to patrol businesses to help curb retail theft
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed just signed legislation to help curb commercial retail theft. The legislation will allow retailers to contract sheriff's deputies to provide additional law enforcement. A similar program in place allows for contracted police officers.
With the recent rise in retail thefts more and more businesses have told San Francisco officials they want to hire uniformed law enforcement officers to help protect their spaces. The demand for independently contracted San Francisco police officers was so great, independently contracted San Francisco sheriff's deputies are now needed to fill the gap.
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"There's plenty of work in San Francisco plenty of demand we just haven't been able to meet that demand," said District 11 San Francisco Supervisor Ahsha Safai.
Wednesday afternoon, San Francisco Mayor London Breed signed Supervisor Safai's 10A legislation which will allow for those independently contracted deputies.
"We need help and that's what law enforcement partners do we help one another," said Mayor Breed.
In order to have a single point of contact, Supervisor Safai says the requests will continue to go through SFPD. What officers can't fill, they'll pass along.
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"They will begin immediately putting together their administrative plans so they can get sheriffs on the street, so I'm hoping before the end of the year," said Supervisor Safai.
"We are stronger together than we are apart and this is a time we have to pull together in our city," said San Francisco Police Chief William Scott.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed 10A with an 8 to 3 vote.
"I think it's a big step and it's a concrete step and a historic step for San Francisco." said Supervisor Safai.
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The assignments will be voluntary, overtime work and Supervisor Safai says will not impact the day-to-day law enforcement services of the city. Businesses will pay for the contracted deputies.
"Hopefully our businesses, our community will feel just as safe as we probably do now because of all the deputies standing around us," said San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto.
Meantime Wednesday the San Francisco District Attorney's Office announced it will expand victim services to include two property crime advocates. The advocates will support victims of residential burglaries and businesses that have experienced vandalism.
