ABC7 is reporting that the SFPD is launching a pilot program to allow civilians to conduct basic investigations of minor non-violent crimes. The program will train fifteen civilian investigators to gather evidence, take photos of crime scenes, and conduct basic interviews. SFPD only wants these civilian investigators to focus on minor, non-violent crimes such as burglaries and car break-ins. The program will be monitored closely by SFPD, with uniformed officers stepping in when necessary.
The objective here is not only to save money – this program will cost half the amount that is required to train uniformed officers to do the same thing – but also to speed up response times to violent crimes or crimes in progress. To begin, the civilian investigators will start in only a couple of the city’s ten districts.
Police chief George Gascon came up with the idea and it was approved by the mayor as well as the Board of Supervisors over the course of last week’s budget decisions.
Want to be one of the SFPD’s crime fighters? They’re accepting applications for this program right now, just visit your nearest police station and ask for an application.
You can also visit the SFPD Academy website for additional courses available to community members interesting in assisting the SFPD on investigations.
