Sam Spade's San Francisco

Tonight's meeting of the San Francisco Police Commission has been canceled. The presentation of the San Francisco Police Department Vision Statement has been postponed.

The San Francisco Police Department, in partnership with the San Francisco Controller's Office, is undertaking a broad study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Department's pilot foot patrol program, analyze station boundaries, and conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment. That's their intention, but the Vision Statement, which is intended to outline the project, falls flat on its face.

The Vision Statement is a dismal failure. I read the 4-page preliminary document and it reminds me of the reports lazy undergrads turn-in to their professors when they have neither read the textbook or paid any attention to the lectures. The Vision Statement is four pages of fluff and puff and absolutely zero substance. It's not worth wasting your time reading. I would give the authors a generous letter grade of "D".

Fortunately the Vision Statement is a work in progress. I sure hope the document they finally represent is better than the diatribe they have available online.

The SFPD, in partnership with the Controller's Office, has engaged the Police Executive Research Forum and Public Safety Strategies Group to create the Vision Statement. They produce documents reminiscent of lazy Freshmen. I hope the City is not paying much for this crap, because if we are paying good money for this kind of pedestrian writing, then we are clearly getting screwed.

The Police Effectiveness Review is evaluating SFPD's systems, organization, and practices over a period of two years. If they want to save their reputations, they need to fire their consultants and hire new assistants. They need to find somebody who knows how to write and has something to say. More than that - they need to find something to say that actually means something. So far they seem to have zippo.

Although formal presentation of the SFPD Vision Statement has been postponed (for good reason), you can read an advance copy of the statement (for whatever reason you may have) by following the "SFPD Vision Statement" link below.

One point needs to be made. Chief Heather Fong and her command staff have very little to do with this process. They are busy really fighting crime. The SFPD is among the most effective and efficient of any major American city. I support the uniformed and sworn officers of the Department, but the chain of civilian authority - quite frankly - sucks.

This project is in the hands of civilians, politicians and paid consultants and may God have mercy on our souls.

Resources:
San Francisco Police Commission
San Francisco Police Department
SFPD Vision Statement (.pdf)
SFPD Effectiveness Review
Police Executive Research Forum
Public Safety Strategies Group
San Francisco City & County Controller's Office

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