SFPD adopts new gun policy as chief receives death threat
SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - The San Francisco Police Department has initiated a new policy in the wake of a controversial officer-involved shooting.
San Francisco Police Officers Association (SF POA) is expected to make an official announcement Wednesday on a new policy with regards to the recent shooting in the Bayview District that has brought the department under much scrutiny. The videos, shared widely on social media, of the December 2nd incident shows at least five officers shooting and killing a stabbing suspect, Mario Woods.
Last Friday the chief quietly issued a bulletin that requires officers to file a report whenever they point a firearm at someone and to justify their actions. It’s a departure from their previous regulations, but calls for police de-escalation tactics have been coming in, including from Mayor Ed Lee.
According to a release by the SF POA, they hope to move forward “as a community” after what they call a “tragic incident”.
After videos of the shooting emerged, critics called for Police Chief Greg Suhr to resign during public meetings— including the SFPD’s Town Hall meeting on the incident.
Chief Suhr has received a death threat in the wake of the shooting. Suhr told KTVU the department takes death threats seriously, but wouldn’t say anything further and declined to comment on security measures.