Former SFPD veteran named public safety chief by SF Mayor-elect Lurie
SAN FRANCISCO - Retired San Francisco Police Cmdr. Paul Yep was named the city's first-ever chief of public safety Thursday by Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie.
In an interview with KTVU, Yep said his role will be the single point person unifying various city departments in support of advancing public safety.
"There are many layers, but part of my job is to make sure we're all working together toward the same goal, and that's to make a safe San Francisco," Yep said. "My main goal as chief of public safety is to ensure that people who live, work and play in San Francisco feel safe."
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The city ended 2024 with crime far lower than the year before. But that can be of little comfort to residents and victims.
"Statistics are very important. Numbers are important. They tell one story. But if people don't feel safe, then we haven't accomplished what we need to accomplish," Yep said.
Yep served with the San Francisco police for more than 28 years and served as captain at Central, Northern and Richmond stations.
At one point, Yep provided details of deadly shootings by officers during virtual town hall meetings.
More recently, Yep was at Lurie's side during the campaign.
In his new role with the mayor's office, Yep will work with a number of city agencies, including the police department, sheriff's office, district attorney, fire department, public defender and probation.
Sheriff Paul Miyamoto hailed the appointment, calling Yep a "deeply passionate" leader. Miyamoto says he's known Yep personally for more than 35 years, since before their law enforcement careers.
But noticeably absent from Lurie's announcement was any mention of the city's top cop, Bill Scott. Lurie has not said whether he intends to keep Scott as chief.
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Yep said, "I've worked with Bill Scott in the past, and I look forward to working with him in the future. His future's going to be determined."
KTVU asked Yep if he would want to be chief if asked by the mayor.
"I am 100% focused on the job that I have now as chief of public safety. I take it very seriously, and that's my passion and that's what I'm going to do," Yep said.
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan