Chief Bill Scott to leave SFPD, accept position in another jurisdiction

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — San Francisco Chief Bill Scott will be leaving the police department to accept a role in another jurisdiction, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced on Wednesday. Scott served as chief for more than eight years.

“Serving as the chief of police for this great city for the past eight years has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Chief Scott said. “We accomplished what we set out to do and made the department better and helped this great city to become safer in the process.”

Tributes from other local officials began pouring in shortly after it was announced Scott would be leaving SFPD.

“It was among the great honors of my career to serve in SFPD under SFPD Chief Bill Scott’s leadership — through Covid, George Floyd, the recall of a sitting D.A., and an unprecedented staffing crisis — and watch it emerge as a national model for 21st century police reform,” tweeted SF Supervisor Matt Dorsey.

“Heartfelt congratulations to longstanding San Francisco Police Chief William Scott who has served our city with humility, fairness, and dedication since he first arrived more than eight years ago,” wrote San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto. “Chief Scott has been an unwavering champion of social reform and change in law enforcement, even amongst dissenting voices, blazing a trail many would not have dared to take.”

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins called Scott’s departure “an overwhelming loss to our city.”

“He is the consummate professional who for eight years tirelessly devoted his life and career to delivering public safety to San Francisco and promoting responsible reform within the San Francisco Police Department,” Jenkins said. “We have worked together closely for the last three years in the trenches, doing everything we can to turn this city around.”

Mayor Lurie will choose Scott’s successor from a list of candidates that will be put together by the San Francisco Police Commission.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.