Budget Proposal Holds San Francisco PD Funding Hostage Until Reforms Happen

'Reform or don't get paid' is the message Supervisor John Avalos is sending to the San Francisco Police Department as part of the Board of Supervisors' review of Mayor Ed Lee's $9.6 billion budget proposal, which began Thursday, reports the San Francisco Examiner .

On Friday, Avalos will ask the five-member board Budget and Finance Committee to support placing on reserve $200 million of the San Francisco Police Department's salary budget. Avalos said that would leave the department with enough funding to operate for the first six months of the fiscal year before having to return to the Board of Supervisors to ask for additional money.

The remaining money would only be released if the department makes specific reforms, like adopting a use-of-force policy that requires de-escalation techniques and "use of the 'minimal force necessary' as opposed to 'reasonable' force."

There would also need to be quarterly reports on arrests and use of force, including demographic data and incidents resulting in death or injury.

Avalos said he had a phone conversation with acting police Chief Toney Chaplin, who told him "don't do it" in regards to holding police funding hostage. Avalos said he intends to have an in-person meeting with Chaplin prior to Friday's committee hearing.

Supervisor Malia Cohen, however, raised concerns about impacts to "immediate staffing levels and incoming Police Academies."