SFPD To Retrain on Sanctuary City Policy
San Francisco's 20-year sanctuary ordinance was the focus of police commissioners at a Wednesday meeting. They have decided that police will receive refresher training on the processing of immigration warrants.
Under San Francisco's sanctuary city ordinance, police assist immigration and customs enforcement in criminal and emergency situations, but it's hands off for civil warrants. Police Captain David Lazar told the police commission that the administrative warrants don't end up in the system.
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"The warrant bureau has indicated that it's only criminal warrants that end up in the system," said Lazar.
Still, in some cases, the warrant does not specify if it is criminal or civil. Police Commissioner Angela Chan says fostering trust is important.
"Victims and witnesses to crime need to feel safe coming forward," said Chan.
Police Chief George Gascon says police are doing an outstanding job in this area, but he still thinks it would be timely for the department to go back and get some refresher training because it's a very complicated area of law.
If police ignore a criminal warrant then they are neglecting their duty.
