San Francisco supervisors demand police chief be replaced

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The call for the firing of San Francisco's police chief just changed significantly as city leaders have joined protesters in demanding San Francisco Police Department Chief Greg Suhr be replaced.

Nearly a third of the city's supervisors are demanding Suhr be replaced.

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Suhr does have support from the mayor. Supporters said getting rid of Suhr will make the problems at the police department that people are concerned about worse.

Four supervisors have come out against Suhr, calling for a new chief. They joined the voices of protesters who are concerned about the number of officer-involved shootings, and racist and homophobic texts that have been sent by some officers.

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Supporters of Suhr agree that the department needs reform, but they said Suhr is the person to improve the department. "We don't have time to waste in terms of implementing reforms and the police commission and the chief are working very hard now to advance reforms. Let them to that work instead of this sideshow about how the chief has to go. This is not going to accomplish anything and will only frankly delay some of the work that is happening," San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener said.

"I recognize there's a level of politics that are involved, but I'm about making sure that these reforms do get done and there led properly, the chief has not been an obstacle to that, in fact, he's been championing these reforms and he's holding officers accountable," Lee said.

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The supervisors who have come out against Suhr are calling him a distraction, and saying they need to regain the trust of the community.

Suhr said he's committed to staying on the job, but this is the first time that any city leadership has come out against him.

A statement of support was released from San Francisco Supervisor Katy Tang's office and Mark Farrell said he is behind Suhr as well.