Police Chief Urges Continued S.F. Curfew Until Looting, Violence End

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SFPD Chief Bill Scott. Screen capture from SFGovTV

San Francisco remains under an 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew in the wake of a nationwide civil uprising over the death of George Floyd, an African-American man killed at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis.
During a Monday morning press conference, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said he is cautioning Mayor London Breed not to end the curfew too soon.
“Looting, destroying property, hurting people, causing just total havoc has to stop. I give my advice as a police chief to the mayor. The mayor makes the decision and my advice to the mayor is as long as we see what we’ve seen in the last couple of days, I’m going to advise her to not let the curfew end.”
Scott made the remarks at a press conference attended by Mary Ellen Carroll, the executive director of the department of emergency management, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, and Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson.
The police chief was asked if he could provide evidence of criminal actors in the midst of otherwise peaceful demonstrations.
“Absolutely I can. A loaded handgun. explosives in a backpack last night. On Saturday night, there were several Molotov cocktails thrown at officers, individuals who came to this city with crowbars, bolt cutters that were designed specifically to get into businesses to take property and loot. We saw a van passing out bricks to throw at officers on Saturday night. If that’s anybody’s idea of a peaceful protest, we need to talk about that.”
Scott said the department will remain out in force with assistance from 208 other law enforcement officers who have come from other counties in the state to assist the SFPD during the unrest.
Other updates from today’s press conference:

  • Scott said his department is committed to “Constitutional policing, respect for all, providing safety with respect.” (4:51)
  • The chief said 208 law enforcement personnel from around the state are assisting SFPD. (7:31)
  • Scott said 87 people were arrested for violating curfew Sunday night. (12:06)
  • Miyamoto said the jail population has increased due to felony arrests but remains around half capacity to ensure social distancing. (15:54)
  • Nicholson said there were slightly more than the usual number of fire and medical calls Sunday night, but far less than on Saturday night. (23:33)
  • Scott said seven of 10 felony arrests made during the protest period were of San Francisco residents. (30:16)

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