Mayor names Toney Chaplin SFPD interim chief in wake of officer shootings, scandals

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU/BCN) - After the third fatal officer-involved shooting in six months, Mayor Ed Lee announced that he had accepted the resignation of San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr. At a news conference on Thursday, Lee named his interim replacement, a deputy chief, Toney Chaplin. 

Chaplin, 47, is a 26-year veteran of the department and was an inspector at the gang task force, promoted to lieutenant in 2012 when he went into patrol.

He became a lieutenant of the homicide division in 2014 when he was promoted to commander of investigations in April 2015. He then became deputy chief earlier this year.

Mayor Lee said the interim chief would take command of the city's police force while it searches for a permanent replacement. A rally was expected to be held tonight outside City Hall. by in the Bayview Dist

Chaplin before today was serving as deputy chief in charge of the department's Professional Standards and Principled Policing Bureau.