Police policy change gives San Francisco Police more leeway in pursuits – NBC Bay Area

A possible change to police chases by the San Francisco Police Commission is intended to give officers more leeway.

This law, which voters passed earlier this year, will allow officers to initiate a chase even if they believe a crime is being committed.

“The pursuit policy required the most changes in response to Prop E, and this is where there was the greatest disagreement prior to Prop E’s passage,” said SFPC member Kevin Benedicto.

The current police only allow prosecutions in cases of violent crimes, suspected drug trafficking, business break-ins and cases of sexual assault.

Human rights groups have spoken out against the policy change, pointing to government data showing that black drivers are six times more likely to be stopped than white drivers.

Despite all the opposition, Police Chief Bill Scott of the San Francisco Police Department said the policy change would allow officers to spend more time on patrol rather than filing paperwork.

“It saves a lot of time and I think that’s the whole point: to be efficient and precise at the same time,” Scott said.

Although crime in the city is at its lowest level in a decade, Mayor Long Breed said, “We cannot and will not let up because there is still a lot of work ahead of us to make our city even safer.”

Currently, the pursuit policy is up for a preliminary vote next week. If the police union approves the bill, it will then go to a final vote.