Case: DOJ-COPS Assessment of the San Francisco Police Department

N/A | No Court

Filed Date: Oct. 12, 2016

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

On December 2, 2015, San Francisco police officers shot Mario Woods at least 21 times, killing him. Woods was suspected of assault and was holding a knife. The police claimed that Woods repeatedly ignored orders to drop the knife before they fired. However, video of the shooting showed that Woods appeared to be walking away from the officers when they opened fire. The video provoked public outcry and protest. In response to community outcry after several officer-involved shootings and other hig…

On December 2, 2015, San Francisco police officers shot Mario Woods at least 21 times, killing him. Woods was suspected of assault and was holding a knife. The police claimed that Woods repeatedly ignored orders to drop the knife before they fired. However, video of the shooting showed that Woods appeared to be walking away from the officers when they opened fire. The video provoked public outcry and protest.

In response to community outcry after several officer-involved shootings and other high-profile incidents, Mayor Ed Lee and former Police Chief Greg Suhr requested assistance from the Justice Department to conduct a thorough review of the police department’s policies and practices. Specifically, they sought an independent assessment of SFPD through the DOJ’s COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance (CRI-TA). On January 25, 2016, the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution requesting a federal investigation into the San Francisco Police Department.

In a letter dated January 21, 2016 and released in early February, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch initiated a federal review. Instead of implementing a consent decree, a two-year review was to be conducted by the office of Community Oriented Policing Services, which provides grants to improve law enforcement, in an effort for this to be a collaborative effort to change practices.

The goal of CRI-TA with the SFPD was to assess, monitor, and assist the department, in collaboration with the community, in the implementation and sustainment of reforms that increase public trust through improvements in community policing practices, transparency, professionalism, and accountability while considering national standards, promising practices, current and emerging research, and community expectations.

As a result of an extensive independent assessment of the San Francisco Police Department’s (SFPD) activities and operations, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) presented findings and recommendations on how to address the agency’s needs proactively in a long-term manner to improve trust between the SFPD and the communities it serves. 

On October 12, 2016, the DOJ COPS Office published its assessment of the San Francisco Police Department. In its review of the SFPD, COPS noted that deficiencies were found ranging from outdated use of force policies to inadequate data collection and lack of accountability measures. COPS also found disparities in traffic stops, post-stop searches, and use of deadly force against African Americans. In addition, there were numerous indicators of implicit and institutionalized bias against minority groups. Though the COPS Office was concerned about the policies and practices of the SFPD, it also found that this was a department committed to making the necessary changes and working with the community. To assist SFPD in making changes, the report included findings and recommendations that would help the department modernize its policing practices and enhance community trust. However, the report emphasized that for change to be made, the SFPD must be willing to share decision-making authority over policing priorities and respond to community expectations and needs. This alignment of police and community interests could be served through effective, collaborative application of the principles of community policing. Finally, the COPS Office suggested that this report and its recommendations be required reading for all officers and supervisors of the SFPD, and that the Police Commission and the Board of Supervisors require the SFPD adopt the recommendations contained in the report and provide quarterly reporting from the chief on progress in meeting the reform goals contained in this assessment.

On September 15, 2017, Trump’s DOJ announced its withdrawal from the Collaborative Reform Process. On February 5, 2018, the California Department of Justice (Cal DOJ) announced its agreement to continue to implement the DOJ’s recommendations. 

On May 16, 2019, Cal DOJ released its progress report on Phase I of implementing COP’s recommendations, which praised SFPD for engaging in “true cooperative engagement.” Phase I was focused on developing a plan to implement the COP’s recommendations, and SFPD also began implementing policies and practices, but there was significant work to be done in revising policies, implementing systems, and conducting audits. There were also reports from the community that obstacles within the SFPD were preventing reforms from being implemented quickly and consistently.   

On March 4, 2020, Cal DOJ released its progress report on Phase II. SFPD was substantially compliant with 40 of the COPS recommendations, up from 13 in Phase I, including recommendations related to use of force, bias-free policing, and dealing with civilian complaints. However, Cal DOJ was still concerned with the slow pace of reform during Phase III, persistent anti-Black bias, and, even though the use of force had decreased, there was still disproportionate use of force against Black and Latino people. On November 15, 2022, the City and SFPD signed an agreement to extend Cal DOJ’s independent monitoring of COP’s recommendations.  

On February 11, 2022, the Cal DOH released its progress report on Phase III. Cal DOJ found SFPD compliant with 90% of COP’s recommendations in Phase III, including revising the use of force policy, an expanded Crisis Intervention Team for mental health, a dashboard to analyze officer stop data to identify disparities, and changing hiring practices. The SFPD has also worked with community groups to draft and implement new policies. However, the SFPD must improve in several areas, including addressing racial disparities in officer stops, expediting policy reforms, collecting more data about stops, and recruiting more female officers. The Cal DOJ will continue to monitor SFPD for another two years. 

Summary Authors

Saeeda Joseph-Charles (12/21/2016)

Sophia Weaver (5/2/2023)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:47 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Policing

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 12, 2016

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

COPS office in the Department of Justice. (Non-litigation)

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

San Francisco Police Department (San Francisco), City

Case Details

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

None of the above

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Issues

General:

Failure to discipline

Racial profiling

Policing:

Excessive force

Inadequate citizen complaint investigations and procedures