San Francisco is spending a staggering $108 million annually on police overtime as the city struggles with a crisis-level shortage of over 500 officers and 200 deputies that has crippled public safety response.
Key Takeaways
- San Francisco Police Department is understaffed by approximately 500 officers while the Sheriff’s Department lacks nearly 200 deputies, creating severe public safety gaps
- The city spent $108 million on police overtime in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, with the Board of Supervisors approving $91 million for additional overtime costs
- Mayor Daniel Lurie’s plan includes a 100-day initiative to allow retired officers to return without losing pensions, streamline hiring processes, and reform the police academy
- The initiative follows an audit that uncovered violations of overtime limits and potential sick leave abuse within the department
- The police force has fallen to “historically low” staffing levels with fewer than 1,500 full-duty officers currently serving
Critical Staffing Shortage Crippling Law Enforcement
San Francisco’s law enforcement agencies are operating at dangerously low staffing levels, with the police department short by approximately 500 officers and the sheriff’s department lacking nearly 200 deputies. This severe personnel deficit has drastically undermined the city’s ability to maintain public safety standards and respond effectively to emergencies. Mayor Daniel Lurie recently signed an executive order titled “Rebuilding the Ranks” to address these critical shortages, acknowledging the dire consequences for public safety if the situation continues unabated.
“Right now, San Francisco has fewer than 1,500 full-duty police officers, more than 500 below the recommended staffing level. The Sheriff’s Office is short nearly 200 deputies. That means fewer officers and deputies walking our neighborhoods, slower response times and a growing dependence on costly and unsustainable overtime,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie.
The staffing crisis has created a financial burden on the city, with the San Francisco Police Department spending a whopping $108 million on overtime during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. This financial hemorrhage continues as the Board of Supervisors recently approved an additional $91 million for overtime costs for both the police and sheriff’s departments. These exorbitant overtime expenditures represent taxpayer dollars that could be better allocated if the departments were properly staffed.
Mayor’s Multi-Phase Recovery Plan
Mayor Lurie’s comprehensive plan outlines specific actions over three time frames: 100 days, six months, and one year. The immediate 100-day initiatives include programs that would allow retired officers to return to duty without sacrificing their pensions, streamlining the hiring process, implementing police academy reforms, and expanding the use of technology to compensate for personnel shortages. These measures aim to quickly inject experienced personnel back into the force while accelerating the onboarding of new recruits.
“We have been living on overtime, and that is not sustainable. We’re fortunate that we have the overtime and that the Board and the mayor has granted us that funding to fill in the gaps, but we know that’s not a sustainable model,” stated former Police Chief Bill Scott.
The retiree program represents a particularly innovative approach to rapidly bolstering ranks with experienced officers. “All retirees, hear me clearly. You won’t have to give up your pensions. You can come and work, help the safety in this city and still make a little money on the side and help our deployment situation,” explained former Chief Scott, emphasizing the practical benefits of this initiative.
When public safety is a core function of government and we’re short 500 police officers for a city our size, we must get creative. Relying on overtime is not an option. That’s why I’m supporting Mayor Lurie’s executive directive to address our public safety staffing crisis.
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— Joel Engardio (@JoelEngardio) May 13, 2025
Addressing Systemic Management Issues
Beyond immediate recruitment, the mayor’s plan tackles underlying management problems that have exacerbated the staffing crisis. A recent audit uncovered serious violations of overtime limits and potential sick leave abuse, prompting an investigation into employment practices. The six-month goals include a comprehensive review of SFPD’s employment practices, including overtime allocation and the controversial “10(b)” program that allows officers to work as private security while on the city payroll.
“These shortfalls have significantly strained these departments’ ability to fulfill their core responsibilities,” Mayor Lurie noted, adding that the consequences “include reduced neighborhood presence, slower response times, and an overreliance on costly and unsustainable overtime.”
The order also proposes moving officers from administrative positions to patrol duties and replacing them with civilian personnel, maximizing the deployment of trained officers where they’re most needed. Additionally, the city plans to coordinate with community business districts and private companies to better align public safety resources, addressing critical areas while stretching limited personnel more effectively.
Political Oversight and Future Challenges
The directive comes at a politically sensitive time, following the police chief’s announced departure and with Paul Yep serving as interim chief. While Sheriff Paul Miyamoto has expressed optimism about the plan’s potential to reduce overtime and improve public safety, some city supervisors have raised concerns about accountability. The plan must navigate the complex political landscape of San Francisco, where law enforcement policies often face intense scrutiny and competing priorities.
“I’m glad the mayor is taking the concerns I and other supervisors raised two weeks ago after an audit found a severe lack of accountability for SFPD overtime, sick leave, and the use of the 10B program which enables officers to work for private entities rather than public taxpayers,” said Supervisor Fielder, highlighting the political complexity surrounding the initiative.
In the long term, Lurie aims to pass new laws on officer retirement and publish a staffing progress report within a year. These measures reflect an acknowledgment that the current crisis didn’t develop overnight and won’t be solved quickly. The success of this initiative will ultimately depend on sustained political will, adequate funding, and the ability to overcome the negative perception of law enforcement that has hampered recruitment since 2020. For a city that has become nationally infamous for public safety concerns, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
