Proposition F to Reshape Police Commission Oversight
The November 2026 ballot measure would remove the requirement for Board of Supervisors approval to fire commissioners.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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Should mayors have the authority to fire police commissioners without oversight from city legislators?
San Francisco voters will decide in the November 2026 election whether the mayor should gain the power to remove police commissioners without needing approval from the Board of Supervisors. Proposition F would alter the current system for overseeing the seven-member board that manages the city police department.
Why it matters
The measure touches on the balance of power between City Hall and the commission that handles police misconduct investigations. Residents are split on whether this provides necessary oversight or risks adding political influence to disciplinary decisions.
The seven-member Police Commission currently features four mayoral appointees and three chosen by the Board of Supervisors. The potential policy change remains the subject of ongoing debate regarding the independence of police disciplinary oversight.
The players
Police Commission
The seven-member body that oversees the San Francisco Police Department.
Board of Supervisors
The 11-member legislative body that currently must approve the removal of mayoral appointees to city commissions.
Department of Police Accountability
The city agency responsible for investigating misconduct complaints against police officers.
The details
Proposition F would remove the requirement for Board of Supervisors approval when the mayor wishes to replace an appointee to the Police Commission. While the measure also seeks to shift appointment authority for the Department of Police Accountability director, the Ethics Commission and certain other city bodies remain exempt from the new removal process. Voters will cast their ballots this November to determine whether to modify the structure established in 2003.
Timeline
2003: The current Police Commission structure was established to limit political interference.
November 2026: Voters will decide on Proposition F.
Across the Bay
The proposal marks a significant departure from the 2003 Police Commission restructuring intended to isolate officer discipline from political influence. If passed, the measure would essentially undo the safeguards established by that prior reform.
Voters will make the final decision on the commission structure during the November 2026 election. The result will determine who holds the authority to appoint and remove the officials overseeing the police department in your neighborhood.
The takeaway
Voters should weigh whether the current check on mayoral power serves their interests regarding police accountability. Watch for upcoming public forums where the implications of shifting the appointment authority for the Department of Police Accountability director will be discussed before the election.
Further reading
For more background on the oversight bodies in our city, visit San Francisco Law Enforcement.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports.
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Should mayors have the authority to fire police commissioners without oversight from city legislators?
