Patrol specials face disciplinary measures

SAN FRANCISCO — The majority of San Francisco’s 161-year-old private patrol unit will face discipline after refusing to hand over their client lists to The City’s police department.

Fed up with resistance from many of the approximately 35 patrol specials, police commissioners laid down the law last month and said the officers must follow the interim governing rules that went into effect Jan. 31, or face consequences that could include losing their jobs.

Patrol specials, armed officers sanctioned by the city charter and hired by merchants and neighborhood associations, were ordered to wear their light blue-accented uniform, which differentiate them from sworn police officers, and to hand over to police a list of clients on their beats, as well as how much the clients pay for service.

While all but a handful of patrol specials are now complying with the uniform requirements, there have been only a few who have turned over their client lists, said Police Commission President Theresa Sparks. The non-compliant officers will be sent letters this week telling them they’re out of compliance and that disciplinary action may follow. Meanwhile, the patrol specials have retained an attorney.

“I still believe the fundamental problem is the patrol specials still have not acknowledged the commission is the legal body regulating them,” Sparks said. “There is a set of rules in place and we expect full compliance immediately.”

The power struggle is the latest in a feud between the patrol specials and the San Francisco Police Department that has simmered for years. Some police officers have criticized patrol specials for donning similar uniforms without the same training, while some patrol specials have claimed they’ve faced resentment by police officers for eating up potential police overtime hours or infringing on or competing with cop-owned security firms.

Officer Jane Warner, president of the San Francisco Patrol Special Police Officers Association, said she and her colleagues aren’t being contrary — they’re just protecting the confidentiality of their clients.

“We feel we have certain obligations to our clients that are not being respected,” Warner said, adding that she has offered to have a sit-down with Sparks and disclose her client information if there was assurance that others could not access the sensitive financial
information.

Patrol specials have received no training on the new rules and had little say in their implementation, Warner said.

“The input we submitted was ignored. We feel like we’ve had no voice in this process,” she said.

Commissioners met with patrol specials dozens of times, according to Sparks.

“I don’t think it’s reasonable for Jane Warner or any patrol specials to require the regulating agency do anything. These rules are being legally enforced, they’re in place, and we expect them to comply,” Sparks said.

Patrol specials history

1847: Formed by merchants to combat the insurgence of Barbary Coast outlaws

1935: Incorporated into The City’s charter

2008: Police commission approves interim rules to govern patrol specials, including uniforms that differentiate them from sworn SFPD officers

2009: New rules implemented; patrol specials ordered to comply

Source: SFPD, San Francisco Patrol Specials

tbarak@sfexaminer.com