SAN FRANCISCO—William “Bill” Scott, 52, who was appointed as the new San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Chief by Mayor Edwin Lee on December 27, 2016, is scheduled to take office on Monday, January 23.
Scott, an Alabama native, served the South Bureau of the Los Angeles Police Department for 27 years, becoming their Deputy Chief. He was sworn in at City Hall around 3:00 p.m.
Scott will supersede, 26-year SFPD veteran Toney Chaplin, who served as chief beginning in May 2016, replacing former Police Chief Greg Suhr.
The department which Scott is taking over after issues of racial disparities within the department. The incidents allegedly entail discrepancies within the department in the use of force incidents, traffic stops and absence of transparency.
According to the Los Angeles Times, “federal officials reviewed 548 use-of-force cases between May 2013 and May 2016. The Justice Department found 37% of the people whom city police used force against were African American.”
The SFPD has re-evaluated the use of force policy within the San Francisco Police Officers Association.
“The Bay Area’s gain is L.A.’s loss. Bill’s tactical skills, intelligence and kindness embody the spirit of our department,” said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck.
