SAN FRANCISCO—On Tuesday, August 19, the San Francisco Police Department announced that Interim Chief Paul Yep announced a new leadership structure focusing on efficiency, accountability, and basic public safety services, including patrol, as the department continues to hire additional officers.
The new command framework prioritizes sustaining the department’s 21st-century police reforms and enhances collaboration with city partners.
The department structure consists of the Office of the Chief of Police and five bureaus – each overseen by a Deputy Chief. They are Airport, Administration, Field Operations, Investigations, and Special Operations. The different bureaus will be overseen by an Assistant Chief position, which is vacant at the moment.
Several units are no longer active, including the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Assistant Chief of Operations, the Strategic Management Bureau, and the Policy and Public Affairs Unit. The staff from these units have been redistributed into existing units that are more in line with their duties.
Additional officers were redeployed to patrol as the police department continues to focus on hiring more officers under the San Francisco Mayor’s Rebuilding the Ranks initiative.
Chief Yep made the changes to the command structure after a thorough analysis that focused on maximizing efficiency and ensuring staff have adequate support and resources. The Office of the Chief of Police will oversee vital responsibilities like sustaining the department’s reform commitments and government affairs.
“The San Francisco Police Department is more streamlined and efficient than ever,” said Chief Yep. “These necessary changes will give our officers the support they need to keep our city safe. At the same time, the SFPD will continue to be a model for 21st-century policing.”
In July 2025, Chief Yep announced the department’s new command staff positions, including Deputy Chiefs and Commanders, each with decades of talent and experience. That also included promotions and news assignments of captains at district stations and bureaus throughout the department.
