San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott is set to exit his role at the San Francisco Police Department to take up a chief position in a different jurisdiction. The announcement coincided with Mayor Daniel Lurie's public acknowledgment of the resignation today. Scott's new destination remains undisclosed but is expected to be revealed by him later in the day, as confirmed by Mission Local.
During his tenure, Chief Scott became known for his reforms within the SFPD, despite not having the broad support of the department's rank-and-file. The city's officials were reportedly looking to appoint a more localized candidate when Scott, a former Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief, was chosen. This move has often been seen to spark tension within the department. Mayor Lurie is expected to quickly move to ensure a successor who aligns with his public safety policies, as evidenced by the recent appointment of Paul Yep to serve as the interim police chief, someone with whom Mayor Lurie has previously worked closely, particularly regarding the tackling of open-air drug markets.
Scott's era was particularly noted for its focus on public safety, with a highlight being the significant drop in overall crime, nearly 30% from the previous year, according to a social media post by Daniel Lurie. Violent crimes decreased, as did property crimes, with car break-ins hitting a 22-year low. These were accomplishments the Mayor was proud to attribute partly to Scott’s leadership.
As we look for the SFPD’s next leader, we are proud to announce that Paul Yep will serve as Interim Police Chief.
— Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) May 7, 2025
Paul served in the police department for 28 years, including alongside Chief Scott as Commander in the Chief of Staff’s Office overseeing the Risk Management… https://t.co/GvN2YT5Efv pic.twitter.com/QYeB7PwPzX
In the announcement about the interim chief, Mayor Daniel Lurie lauded Yep's deep understanding of the San Francisco community and his extensive experience within the department. "As a Chinatown native and a graduate of Lowell High School and San Francisco State University, Paul Yep knows this city. He knows the department. And he has dedicated his entire career to keeping San Franciscans safe," Mayor Daniel Lurie expressed. The Mayor is hopeful that Yep will be able to seamlessly continue to drive forward the department's key initiatives during this transition period.
