Patrol special police
Encyclopedia
San Francisco Patrol Special Police is a neighborhood police force authorized in the City Charter, with officers appointed and regulated by the Police Commission after an initial security review by the San Francisco Police Department
. Hourly rates for service are principally paid by private clients, with some cost to the City for general program administration concerning standards of professional performance, but not concerning day-to-day operations. Thus, the nature of this special police force is both quasi-private and quasi-public.
The force has been in operation in the United States, city of San Francisco for over 162 years. By current City Code the force provides patrols on the streets of San Francisco as well as at fixed locations, and also provides a range of other safety services as requested by private clients.
By policing tradition and practice, Patrol Special Police Officers respect and consider the distinct tenor and character of neighborhood life in beats where they work. They often attend merchant and resident meetings to listen to concerns or offer advice. Officers become trusted and valued members of neighborhoods where many interact daily with business owners, customers, residents, and families on the streets, thus serving as effective local "eyes and ears" to dispense important safety advice and gather security information.
Clients include merchants, professionals, homeowners’ associations, residents, street fair organizers, non-profit organizations (and occasionally, government agencies who may outsource security). The typical hourly rate in 2010 for patrols averaged $50–60, including a patrol car. Additional services or more intense policing may entail an additional cost negotiated with each client.
Patrol Special Police clients and the public are protected from negligent or intentional harm because rules governing program rules require each beat owner to carry liability insurance that protects against potential negligence or injury by an officer. In addition, rules require each beat owner to carry worker's compensation insurance for employees. Each beat owner determines if he or she will fund a health and/or retirement plan for Assistant Patrol Special Police Officers.
to 50 sworn officers, and created the public police department at the same time. In 1857, the Special Police force was formalized in the City Charter. Today, Section 4.127 of the City Charter governs the Patrol Special Police.
In cases of public safety emergencies, both historically and today, Patrol Special Police and SFPD officers provide assistance to the other force as required by public safety needs, and work cooperatively together to protect the public. Patrol Special Police Officer Robert Burns was recommended in spring of 2010 for an SFPD Medal of Valor for bringing down a gunman outside of his private client's bar on February 7 and thus, saving many lives. In addition, officers have been called upon to assist SFPD officers during earthquakes such as the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Logs of daily activities were introduced in 2010 on the officers’ support group website, and demonstrate a close working relationship between the SFPD foot patrol officers and community safety groups in neighborhoods where Patrol Special Police Officers serve.
The Interim Rules and Procedures for Patrol Special Officers and Their Assistants (The Rules) promulgated by the Police Commission in December, 2008 require that Patrol Special Police Officers pass an initial background check conducted by the SFPD. Officers receive 24 hours of annual training in the classroom and twice on the range according to standards determined by the Police Chief. Before going on patrol, Patrol Special Police check in with the duty watch commander in the police district where they serve.
The Rules authorize the uniform and patch as shown above, which are distinct from that of the San Francisco Police Department, however the uniform, service revolver, baton, and patrol car are purchased privately by the Patrol Special Police Officer and not paid for with taxpayer funds. Patrol Special Police Officers wear a patch on their uniform that identifies their force by name on a band at the top, as shown above. The lettering and trim of the patch is embroidered in silver thread. Officers wear a silver-toned six-point star with the words “San Francisco Patrol Special Police."
San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...
. Hourly rates for service are principally paid by private clients, with some cost to the City for general program administration concerning standards of professional performance, but not concerning day-to-day operations. Thus, the nature of this special police force is both quasi-private and quasi-public.
The force has been in operation in the United States, city of San Francisco for over 162 years. By current City Code the force provides patrols on the streets of San Francisco as well as at fixed locations, and also provides a range of other safety services as requested by private clients.
Services, Operation, and Financing
Patrol Special Police services emanate directly from private clients’ needs pursuant to a negotiated contract, however services often benefit the clients' geographically-circumscribed neighborhoods or "beats” where officers serve. Officers concentrate on order maintenance, rapid response, and early intervention in quality-of-life matters. Their goal is to prevent disturbances from becoming expensive and serious crimes, and to relieve pressure on the public police. Since 1994 officers operate with citizens’ powers of arrest, are on police radio bandwidth, and are trained annually for 24 hrs. of classroom instruction and twice on the range, according to standards set by the Police Chief. Officers are not civil service employees of the SFPD nor do they earn City benefits or pensions, however, for specified purposes courts may consider them to be employees, such as for purposes of the SFPD maintaining employment records.By policing tradition and practice, Patrol Special Police Officers respect and consider the distinct tenor and character of neighborhood life in beats where they work. They often attend merchant and resident meetings to listen to concerns or offer advice. Officers become trusted and valued members of neighborhoods where many interact daily with business owners, customers, residents, and families on the streets, thus serving as effective local "eyes and ears" to dispense important safety advice and gather security information.
Clients include merchants, professionals, homeowners’ associations, residents, street fair organizers, non-profit organizations (and occasionally, government agencies who may outsource security). The typical hourly rate in 2010 for patrols averaged $50–60, including a patrol car. Additional services or more intense policing may entail an additional cost negotiated with each client.
Patrol Special Police clients and the public are protected from negligent or intentional harm because rules governing program rules require each beat owner to carry liability insurance that protects against potential negligence or injury by an officer. In addition, rules require each beat owner to carry worker's compensation insurance for employees. Each beat owner determines if he or she will fund a health and/or retirement plan for Assistant Patrol Special Police Officers.
History and Relationship to the San Francisco Police Department and Community Groups
Patrol Special Police force history dates from before the 1849 Gold Rush prior to formation of the City's formal police department. A citizen and merchant-sponsored neighborhood police force known as the Special Police, has kept San Francisco neighborhoods safe since it was established in 1847 with the swearing in of two constables. In 1851, the City increased Special PoliceSpecial police
Special Police does not have a consistent international meaning. In many cases it will describe a police force or a unit within a police force whose duties and responsibilities are significantly different from other forces in the same country or significantly different from other police in the same...
to 50 sworn officers, and created the public police department at the same time. In 1857, the Special Police force was formalized in the City Charter. Today, Section 4.127 of the City Charter governs the Patrol Special Police.
In cases of public safety emergencies, both historically and today, Patrol Special Police and SFPD officers provide assistance to the other force as required by public safety needs, and work cooperatively together to protect the public. Patrol Special Police Officer Robert Burns was recommended in spring of 2010 for an SFPD Medal of Valor for bringing down a gunman outside of his private client's bar on February 7 and thus, saving many lives. In addition, officers have been called upon to assist SFPD officers during earthquakes such as the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Logs of daily activities were introduced in 2010 on the officers’ support group website, and demonstrate a close working relationship between the SFPD foot patrol officers and community safety groups in neighborhoods where Patrol Special Police Officers serve.
Appointment and Program Regulation
Patrol Special Police Officers and Assistant Officers are duly appointed by the San Francisco Police Commission, an appointed body of seven civilians which has oversight responsibility for the Patrol Special Police Program as well as for the SFPD.The Interim Rules and Procedures for Patrol Special Officers and Their Assistants (The Rules) promulgated by the Police Commission in December, 2008 require that Patrol Special Police Officers pass an initial background check conducted by the SFPD. Officers receive 24 hours of annual training in the classroom and twice on the range according to standards determined by the Police Chief. Before going on patrol, Patrol Special Police check in with the duty watch commander in the police district where they serve.
The Rules authorize the uniform and patch as shown above, which are distinct from that of the San Francisco Police Department, however the uniform, service revolver, baton, and patrol car are purchased privately by the Patrol Special Police Officer and not paid for with taxpayer funds. Patrol Special Police Officers wear a patch on their uniform that identifies their force by name on a band at the top, as shown above. The lettering and trim of the patch is embroidered in silver thread. Officers wear a silver-toned six-point star with the words “San Francisco Patrol Special Police."