A controversy stirred up by the ACLU and Asian Law Caucus on whether police can collect intelligence on San Franciscans through the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force will be the topic of discussion at a joint hearing next month.

The Police Commission and Human Rights Commission will be meeting in the next few weeks, but in the meantime Police Commission President Thomas Mazzucco wants to assure residents that “there’s no hiding the ball here” and police are not collecting information about people unless they’re suspected of a crime as is required by the department’s general orders.

“I think a lot of this is about perception, and we have to feel strongly about people’s perceptions,” Mazzucco said. “It’s a very delicate balance between public safety and protecting certain rights and constitutional rights.”

bbegin@sfexaminer.com