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56m ago

Derrick Lew Named San Francisco Police Chief After Nationwide Search

City leaders cast his selection as a pivot to accelerated public-safety efforts.

Derrick Lew.
Derrick Lew spoke at a press conference on Oct. 17, 2025. Photo by Xueer Lu.
Image
Deputy Police Chief Derrick Lew’s jacket from a 2006 incident in which a bullet ripped through it, illustrated by a stick marker, is displayed in a case at the SFPD Bayview Station.

Overview

  • Lew was introduced by officials on Thursday and will officially take command on Dec. 22.
  • The 52-year-old SFPD veteran has led the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center and most recently oversaw the Field Operations Bureau.
  • He outlined immediate goals to recruit more officers, intensify drug-market enforcement, improve street conditions, and expand use of technology.
  • Mayor Daniel Lurie selected Lew from candidates advanced by the Police Commission after a national search that drew 34 applicants and was facilitated by an outside firm.
  • The transition comes as the department contends with persistent staffing gaps, high overtime spending, and broader city backing for expanded surveillance tools such as drones.