San Francisco to hire retired police officers for events, shelters amid staffing shortage
Officials said the plan, which the city and police union agreed upon late last month, is expected to free up current officers for patrol and investigative duties and cut down the use of overtime, which the department oftentimes relies on to provide security at events and locations such as shelters.
The city plans to hire and deploy retirees by the fall, according to Mayor Daniel Lurie's office. The retirees — projected to total about 50 to 100, or more if necessary — will work in a part-time capacity as needed and collect an hourly salary, without benefits. They will be in uniforms and equipped like any other officer, assigned to events such as concerts, parades and festivals, as well as shelters and navigation centers, a type of shelter that offers intensive case management services. The program is open to retirees with state certifications, which generally remain active for three years after retirement.
The plan represents a new strategy to beef up staffing at a time when the department faces a shortage of about 500 officers and a reliance on overtime to fill gaps. A recent audit found that SFPD's overtime spending surged from $52.9 million in 2018 to $108.4 million in 2023.
Lurie and interim Police Chief Paul Yep described the move as a smart way to beef up the department's ranks to cut down on overtime, free up current officers and avoid burnout. 'We are meeting the serious staffing shortages with urgency, innovation and results,' Lurie said in part in a statement.
'It's a practical, effective solution to the staffing challenges we face,' added Yep, who developed the plan after he joined Lurie's administration as chief of public safety.
The department required officers to work overtime to beef up staffing and keep crowds safe during several recent large-scale events, including the Chinese New Year Parade, NBA All-Star Weekend and San Francisco Pride celebrations. The program for retired officers is expected to accomplish the same results 'without burning out the current force' during upcoming events that are expected to draw large crowds to the Bay Area, including the 2026 Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup, Lurie's office said.
Tracy McCray, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, lauded the program as a 'great example of collaboration between the mayor, the SFPD and the SFPOA to address our staffing challenges in a thoughtful' way. 'This program will help ensure public safety during large-scale events while we continue working to rebuild and grow the department,' McCray said in a statement.
Lurie first announced the idea for the program in May, when he outlined several plans to grow the ranks within the police department and sheriff's office. Lurie's directive also called for the creation of a group of police and sheriff's officials who will look at opportunities to partner on investigations and patrol duties.
Lurie's office also announced a surge in interest in the police force. In the first six months of the year, the department received 2,155 applications, compared to 1,311 during the same period last year. The department also is on track to hire more officers from other agencies this year than last year, the mayor's office said, adding that the department hired 30 officers from other agencies during the fiscal year that ended a week ago, compared to eight during the previous fiscal year.
The department also is speeding up the hiring process. This month the department will host 'one-step testing days,' which will allow applicants to complete multiple steps, including fingerprinting for background checks, physical abilities tests and oral interviews in one day.
The efforts are the city's latest to attract and retain officers. Under former Mayor London Breed, San Francisco became the city with the highest starting pay for new officers in the Bay Area. The city also approved a contract that gave officers retention raises.
The sheriff's office has seen similar progress in beefing up its ranks. The office hired 96 deputies during the latest fiscal year, the highest total and, with 64 retirements and resignations taken into account, the largest gain in the past 10 fiscal years. Lurie's office attributed the staffing boost to changes intended to speed up the office's hiring process.
'The message is simple: We are rebuilding the ranks, and it's working,' Lure said Monday.
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