A former federal prosecutor was appointed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Tuesday as the newest member of the city’s Police Commission.
Julius Turman was approved by the board to replace Jim Hammer for a four-year term ending in April 2015. Hammer decided not to apply again for the seat on the seven-member commission.
Turman was selected after discussions between supervisors about whether to appoint him or attorney David Waggoner, one of four people who had applied for the position.
Turman is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney who also currently sits on the city’s Human Rights Commission, while Waggoner is a local attorney who is the former president of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club.
The board’s rules committee had nominated Turman for the position on June 2, but at today’s board meeting, Supervisor John Avalos proposed making Waggoner the pick.
Avalos said, “it’s important to have a reform-minded commissioner” in the wake of recent misconduct allegations within the Police Department.
Other supervisors expressed their support for Turman though, including Supervisor Scott Wiener, who said he is “an incredibly well-respected leader in our community” who has “consistently shown independence and leadership.”
The move to make Waggoner the nominee failed by a 7-4 vote. Along with Avalos, Supervisors Jane Kim, Ross Mirkarimi and Eric Mar voted in favor of Waggoner.
After that initial vote on Waggoner, the supervisors eventually voted unanimously in favor of appointing Turman to the commission.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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