"Last year, the police department asked for like $95 million for extra overtime. That's a tough thing to chew on when you're cutting other departments like health and other areas that are vital to the city. A lot of the anti-crime measures, especially the drug crackdowns in the mid-Market area, the use of drones, the tactical response in retail crime, a lot of that is paid for with overtime."
"We have to make sure we have the right resources for prevention. We have to make sure we have the right resources for intervention. We have to make sure we have the right resources for mental health. Public safety comes from more than just policing."
San Francisco faces a historic budget deficit of nearly $900 million over two fiscal years, prompting the Police Department to cut overtime hours by 22% across all stations. The department previously requested $95 million for overtime, which Mayor Daniel Lurie must balance against cuts to other vital city services. Anti-crime measures including drug crackdowns, drone surveillance, and retail crime response rely heavily on overtime funding. While some city officials, including Supervisor Shamann Walton, view the cuts as necessary accountability, concerns exist about potential crime increases following last year's historic low crime rates. Walton advocates for comprehensive public safety through prevention, intervention, and mental health resources beyond policing alone.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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