“Guide to Policing in San Francisco”
A new reference by and for LWVSF volunteers.
There is now a Guide to Policing in San Francisco for anyone who needs a reference to help them to better understand local policing.
I joined the League of Women Voters of San Francisco (LWVSF) Police Observer Corps because I am interested in police reform. Observing government meetings is an excellent way to learn how to shape our community. The League offers free training to anyone who wants it on how to observe public meetings, publishes educational materials about policing, and now League volunteers have this Guide to Policing in San Francisco.
Policing is a very technical field. There are many different agencies, institutions, and officials connected to the police. They use unique vocabulary and cryptic abbreviations. Knowing about federal, state and local legislation is necessary as well. I have been observing for a few years now, and I still regularly hear unfamiliar references. I couldn’t find a guide anywhere to explain the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) and its policies.
The goal of this guide is to help our volunteers gain a basic understanding of the SFPD and related public safety topics. It is by no means comprehensive. It is intended to be a living document, updated to include information and new developments. Now, especially, policing is constantly evolving.
LWVSF’s goal is for all San Franciscans to understand and help shape policing practices. Please use our volunteer Policing in San Francisco guide. We welcome your feedback at education@lwvsf.org because we plan to officially publish the sections you find most useful (like our Police in San Francisco FAQ) in the future.
— Bex H, observer
