[dragonwriter]

San Francisco never defunded the police. (IIRC, voters passed a measure eliminating a mininum funding mandate, but the actual budget has increased.)

The SFPD may choose not to enforce laws, but I don't think anyone outside of SFPD directed that, it's just organized nonfeasance as leadership political protest.

[google234123]

> organized nonfeasance as leadership political protest

Nope, this is fake news. You should learn more about your DA Chesa Boudin. He rarely brings cases to trial, fired a bunch of prosecutors and 30 others have left, and removed cash bail which puts repeat offenders right back on the street after arrest.

[BobbyJo]

The police don't want to arrest criminals and fill out paperwork if the people they pick up aren't going to be held. That's a knock on effect of what you're describing.

[xrd]

I don't want to fill out TPF reports either but if that's a requirement of my job, shouldn't I do it?

[BobbyJo]

Sure. And objectively the cops should keep arresting these people. Unfortunately people aren't robots, and morale is a thing.

[xrd]

How often do we say the same thing about people that are poor and have no other options but turning to a life of crime? The police are paid. The retail gangs might not have any employment opportunities. But, how often does someone say "people aren't robots and morale is a thing" about them and mean that crushing poverty leads them to make poor but understandable choices.

It's just a thought experiment and something to consider.

[google234123]

What if your boss didn't want you to fill out TPF reports? Would you do it then?

[cmelbye]

SFPD was facing a shortage of new recruits this summer: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/06/24/san-francisco-g...

The political and social climate in SF has led to a situation where the number of officers on the street can shrink even if the budget stays flat or grows.

[hindsightbias]

Applicants, not recruits. Apples and oranges. Urban PDs have been moaning about being understaffed while kneecapping actually graduating more because they are gorging on overtime. Same with public works. Remember the HN outrage with the Muni worker making $400K? They have all their cake and eat it too.

An 800K San Franciscans have been clammering for community policing for decades but it never happens. Because PDs don’t want that.

This has been the state forever: http://sfappeal.com/2012/04/understaffed-sfpd-is-nonetheless...