Despite New District Attorney, SF Police Commission Operates Like Boudin Agents

“Crime hasn’t fallen, I told you so.”

Such is the oft-repeated criticism by loyalists of ousted former District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Across the city, not a day goes by that I haven’t heard claims to the effect that the recall of Boudin was a waste of money, and how current District Attorney Brooke Jenkins is ineffective in her quest to return safety to San Francisco’s streets. That our city was “better off under Boudin.”

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Previous DA Chesa Boudin’s policy of non-prosecution was a disaster for San Francisco’s residents, business owners and tourists alike. An entirely unqualified radical who exploited a loophole in running for top law enforcer in the city, who had zero experience holding criminals accountable, Boudin instead purposefully dismantled the criminal justice system in San Francisco. Piece by piece. His obsession with focus on prosecution of cops (which actually was a quixotic effort as he failed in his quest), while refusing to address “quality of life” crimes, has led to the results we see today. His ouster, an overwhelming yes on his recall – depending on the neighborhood – was just one piece of the puzzle in retaking the streets from criminals run amok.

When a perpetrator of a crime is caught by SFPD officers, and evidence and witness statements amassed, the accused is then presented to the District Attorney’s office for consideration of prosecution under law. If the case appears prosecutable, they move forward. Contrast this to the DA’s office while under Chesa Boudin: he made it a policy to essentially never go froward with prosecuting the accused even when repeat crimes had been committed, even with eye-witness statements and photo/video evidence. This is how criminal accountability had been thwarted. The police did their job, yet Boudin blocked forward movement, effectively shutting down the system. Criminals knew they wouldn’t be prosecuted, wouldn’t go to trial, wouldn’t serve prison time- resulting in a boom in crimes as thieves were given the green light to do as they wish.

Once Boudin was recalled and an actual prosecutor became the DA, this roadblock was removed and prosecution restored, albeit slowly. The office of district attorney under Boudin was decimated and in need of a rebuild including new staff (along with removing the Boudin-aligned “prosecutors”).

Now, with the effective District Attorney Brooke Jenkins at the helm for the past year, and with SFPD officers’ capabilities of arrests and accountability seemingly restored, why is it we still see brazen crimes, daytime robberies, shops looted and tourist locales hit? Because it’s the result of another key piece of the puzzle: The Police Commission.

In 2004, San Francisco’s charter was amended establishing how to appoint a seven-member commission which oversees operations policies of the Police Department; it establishes rules of engagement per se, and reviews complaints against police officers including discipline and firing. In short, if the commission aligns with perpetrators of crime, there will be trouble for law enforcement. And such is the case today in the city.

The Police Commission is responsible for the latest directives making news: No use of Tasers by police officers. No spike strips to stop fleeing vehicles. No “pretextual stops” of cars with missing license plates, claiming “racism.” No foot chases, no mugshots of those arrested.  And several of the members of the commission publicly chastise and berate the public when they themselves are criticized. Sounds a lot like Boudin’s mannerisms. If you’ve been paying attention, you’d bear witness to the commission operating essentially as seven mini-Chesa Boudins.

With the restored flow of criminals being prosecuted via arrests, and DA Brooke Jenkin’s office actually prosecuting, those powers desiring to keep San Francisco’s criminals out of jail found a new tactic: prevent the arrest of perpetrators before they can even be pursued. It’s a roadblock placed at the very start.

How can the members of the Police Commission be disciplined or removed? Not so easy. The Mayor appoints four, subject to the SF Board of Supervisors approval, and the Supervisors appoint three (subject to their own approval). With a clearly leftist Board at this time, potential police commission candidates lean heavily anti-Cop; our officers in blue’s hands are tied, morale in the dumpster and tools to catch perpetrators restricted or banned outright, thanks to their ideology.

When the San Francisco Police Commission is effectively replaced by responsible, diligent members who value both life and property, and discontinue those policies meant to thwart accountability of perpetrators, that’s when we will begin to see meaningful progress in reining in crime. We need a commission which doesn’t side with criminals but with law and order.

Link to the Police Commission site: About the Police Commission | San Francisco (sf.gov)