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Once beleaguered by a series of scandals and a rash of deadly shootings by cops, the San Francisco Police Department's new policy to limit the use of force is working, according to Deputy Chief Greg Yee.
Deputy Yee told KCBS Radio that cops have been taking a different approach to potentially dangerous situations.
“Really emphasizing the safety and sanctity of life with de-escalation, communication, and allowing the officers (when feasible) to slow situations down,” Yee said of their revised tactics.
In the third quarter of this year, cops used force only 0.1% of the time. Their overall use of force is down 24% in the past 12 months, and 47% in the last three years. They haven't shot anyone since the summer of 2018.
“It is encouraging that the numbers are going down,” said Yee. “But it’s still a continual process, a continuation of work and commitment that we have to keep going.”
Civil rights activists say the department is still disproportionately aggressive toward people of color, and is taking far too long to implement a series of federally recommended reforms.
Deputy Yee said cops are gradually learning, like how to ask someone why they're waving a knife and calm them down, instead of shouting, "Drop the knife or I'll shoot.”