San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott Steps Down After 8-Year Tenure

Scott will become chief of a newly established public safety department in Los Angeles County.
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott Steps Down After 8-Year Tenure
San Francisco Police Chief William Scott speaks to reporters in San Francisco on Oct. 28, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Lear Zhou
Updated:
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SAN FRANCISCO—Mayor Daniel Lurie announced in a press conference on May 7 that Police Chief William “Bill” Scott is leaving the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) in June “to pursue a new opportunity” after eight years serving in the role.
Scott’s tenure at the SFPD has covered three mayors and one interim mayor and is the longest since Thomas J. Cahill served as chief from 1958 to 1970. Scott oversaw major policing reforms and led the department through tides of crime, including car break-ins peaking in 2017 and increased shoplifting following the COVID-19 pandemic.