In an unprecedented move, the state of California says it will step in to monitor the implementation of nearly 300 police reforms in San Francisco following the Trump Administration’s abandonment of an Obama-era community policing program.
“We picked up the ball and we’re going to run with it,” said the state’s attorney general Xavier Becerra. “I can’t tell you how important it is to have independent eyes overseeing these reforms.”
The changes were previously being overseen by the federal government under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which aims to build trust between members of the community and local law enforcement and help combat racial bias, excessive use of force, and other issues. In September, the Department of Justice opted to stop providing resources for these aims, saying it would focus attention and funds on direct crime prevention efforts instead.
San Francisco will now become the first police department in the nation to agree to state oversight.
"We made a promise to our residents and to our communities that we were going to transform our police department — and partnering with Attorney General Becerra will allow us to follow through on that pledge," Mayor Mark Farrell said.
Read more about the partnership here.