The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has released new data detailing how its officers use force against unsheltered residents. The release follows an article published by the San Francisco Standard, highlighting the reported disparity in the use of force against homeless individuals in the city.
The article stated that nearly a third of all people whom SFPD used force against over a five-year period were experiencing homelessness. The SFPD refuted this, providing detailed data and context behind the figures.
According to SFPD Sgt. Kathryn Winters, the department received 174,176 homeless-related calls from dispatchers between 2017 and 2022. Of those, only 43 resulted in a use of force. These instances often occurred when the individual assaulted or resisted police, or committed another crime.
The types of force used in these 43 cases mostly involved officers using a “physical control hold.” In one case, an officer used OC spray, also known as pepper spray.
The Standard’s analysis suggested that the SFPD disproportionately used force against homeless people. However, SFPD’s provided data indicates that officers used force fewer than three times out of every 10,000 calls relating to homelessness, or .024% of such calls.
Sgt. Winters clarified that officers do not consider a suspect’s housing status when responding to crimes in progress. She listed the top reasons for calls that resulted in the use of force against unsheltered individuals, including burglary, vehicle theft, and suspicious persons.
The SFPD is working with city leaders to develop alternative responses to 911 calls involving homeless individuals. This includes the utilization of crisis response street teams sent to certain scenes instead of uniformed police officers. However, these responders are not trained or certified to respond to violent crimes or burglaries.
Sgt. Winters concluded by stating that the SFPD is committed to delivering safety with respect to all communities they serve. The department continues to lead in 21st Century Policing, including numerous use-of-force reforms that have since become state law.