The San Francisco Police Commission is considering candidates for the open police chief position and will hold three special meetings this month to gather input from residents, starting tonight in the city’s Outer Parkside neighborhood.
The job opened up when George Gascon, who had held the post for 18 months, was named district attorney last month by outgoing Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Gascon replaced Kamala Harris, who is now California’s attorney general, and his second-in-command, Jeff Godown, as currently serving as interim chief.
The commission is tasked with submitting up to three recommendations for the position to Mayor Ed Lee, who can choose one of them or reject them all and start the process over again.
The commission hopes to submit its recommendations to the mayor by March 15, and has been reviewing applications, including during a closed session at Wednesday night’s meeting.
Public participation in the process is encouraged. Special meetings will be held tonight and on the next two Thursdays.
Two or three commissioners will attend each meeting and listen to community members’ opinions on the qualities and characteristics they want in the city’s next top cop.
The first meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. today at the United Irish Cultural Center at 2700 45th Ave.
The other meetings are scheduled for Feb. 17 at the Southeast Community Facility at 1800 Oakdale Ave. and Feb. 24 at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center at 1800 Market St. Those meetings will also begin at 6 p.m.
For more information about the meetings, please call the San Francisco Police Commission at (415) 553-1667.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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