99,314 / 51.94% Yes votes ...... 91,900 / 48.06% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

The Police Commission oversees the Police Department and the Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC). The Mayor appoints all five members of the Police Commission. The Board of Supervisors can reject an appointee by a two-thirds vote. Police Commissioners serve a four-year term, and may continue to serve until reappointed or replaced. The Mayor can remove Commissioners at any time for any reason.

The OCC investigates complaints of police misconduct and neglect of duty. The OCC cannot file charges against police officers, but it can recommend that the Police Chief do so. The Chief is not required to act on OCC recommendations.

The Police Chief can reprimand an officer or suspend the officer for up to ten days. If the Chief files charges against the officer with the Police Commission, the Commission holds a trial and can fire, suspend up to three months, fine or reprimand the officer. If the Chief reprimands or suspends an officer, the Commission cannot also discipline the officer for the same conduct.

The Proposal:

Proposition H is a Charter amendment that would increase the number of Police Commissioners from five to seven. The Mayor would nominate four members and a committee of the Board of Supervisors would nominate three. Each member would have to be confirmed by a majority of the Board. The Mayor could remove his or her appointees only with the approval of a majority of the Board. The Board could remove its appointees at any time for any reason, by majority vote. After a Police Commissioner serves a term, the position would be vacant until the Commissioner is either reappointed or replaced.

The Office of Citizen Complaints (OCC) could file charges against police officers after conferring with the Police Chief. In general, the Chief would have to allow the OCC time to file those charges before the Chief could reprimand or suspend the officer; however, the Chief could temporarily suspend an officer without OCC approval.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

you want to make these changes to the Police Commission and the Office of Citizen Complaints.

A NO vote of this measure means:

you do not want to make these changes.