SAN FRANCISCO -- A proposal to cut certain funding from the San Francisco's Sheriff's Department is drawing fire that some argue the plan would compromise safety at the city's hospitals.

At SF General, some hospital workers told KTVU Channel 2 the proposal to replace Sheriff’s deputies and specially trained officers with private security guards is raising safety concerns.

Currently, sheriff's deputies and so-called institutional police officers trained by the sheriff's department provide security at San Francisco General Hospital and other public health facilities around the city.

That may soon change.

Mayor Gavin Newsom has proposed replacing the law enforcement officers with private security guards to save money to deal with the budget deficit. He says he plans to shift those deputies to the county jails to deal with overcrowding because there is no money to pay for more deputies.

"Do I cut the substance abuse to pay for more deputy sheriffs? Do I cut services at clinics? Do I cut nurses at SF General?" asked Newsom.

Michael Tong is an institutional police officer who has worked at SF General for 12 years. He says a private security guard does not have the necessary powers the officers and deputies now have at the hospital when dealing with violence that often erupts here.

"We had fights between rival gangs in the parking lot. We get all the psychiatric patients that are dangerous to themselves and others. We call them 5150's," explained Tong. "The primary goal of a security guard is to observe and report. It's a visual deterrent. You don't have to be proactive and don't have to be reactive. We have to be proactive and reactive. We're not just a mannequin in a uniform."

One hospsital worker who spoke to us on the condition that we not identify him told us he's often put at risk dealing with mentally unstable patients. He opposes the use of private security guards.

"I've been spit in the face once dealing with a patient. I've also had a needle stick dealing with a patient as well," said the worker.

Mayor Newsom indicated that more discussion regarding the proposal might alleviate some trepidation on the part of hospital staff.

"I think it's a bit hysterical; a little bit of fear mongering. [There are] legitimate concerns, but that's why we'll be thoughtful about who we'll replace them with," said the mayor.

Mayor Newsom did not say whether the private security guards hired to replace the deputies and officers will be armed or what type of training they will be required to have.

While at SF General on Friday night, a KTVU news crew saw paramedics bring in a combative patient that required the help of three deputies. One paramedic expressed concern when we told him deputies at the hospital might be replaced with private security.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on this proposal late next month.