By Joanna Putman
Police1
SAN FRANCISCO — A proposed charter amendment on the November ballot could increase the pay of some San Francisco police officers to over $400,000 annually through a new retention program, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The measure, approved 8-3 by the Board of Supervisors, aims to address the city’s ongoing police staffing crisis by allowing officers to defer retirement for five years in exchange for a pay increase, according to the report.
“We expect to lose more officers to retirements and separation than we’re hiring,” Supervisor Matt Dorsey, the author of the proposal, stated. “We are not meeting the attrition because we are not doing enough to stem the bleeding. We need to keep San Francisco safe, and without aggressive measures to retain officers and stave off retirements, we stand to lose another 16% of our police force.”
The voluntary Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) is projected to cost between $600,000 and $3 million annually if approved by voters. The program is intended to retain officers who might otherwise retire, collect their pension and potentially move to other Bay Area police departments.
Supporters believe that these numbers will likely decrease if officers remain due to the program and overtime costs subsequently decline, according to the report. A Controller’s Office report found that the department could eventually see savings if the program reduces overtime costs.
Under the program, officers with 25 years of experience could add over $169,000 to their salaries in the first year, with inspectors and sergeants potentially adding more than $200,000. Currently, officers receive a retention premium of about 17% of their salary, set to increase to 20% in January 2026, according to the report.
Discover essential strategies for improving law enforcement retention with Gordon Graham. In this video, Gordon outlines five actionable steps that leaders can implement to keep their teams engaged, supported and committed to their roles.