Attorney (Civil/Criminal)

Appointment Type:

Permanent-Exempt (PEX) Appointment. Pursuant to the City & County of San Francisco Charter, Section 10.104.13. Any person occupying a position under exempt appointment shall not be subject to civil service selection, appointment and removal procedures. Exempt employees shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing officer.

Who We Are:

The San Francisco Police Department was established in 1849 and continually strives to become a more effective, inclusive and modern police department, while earning the trust and pride of those we serve and those who serve.  Our goal is to reflect on current SFPD initiatives, assess best practices across the country, and evaluate the changing environment in policing and within the City to arrive at a strategy statement that the Department and our community can embody every day.

The San Francisco Police Department stands for Safety and Respect for All. We will engage in just transparent unbiased and responsive policing. We will do so in the spirit of dignity and in collaboration with the community. And we will maintain and build trust and respect as the guardians of Constitutional and human rights.

The San Francisco Police Department is committed to excellence in law enforcement and is dedicated to the people, traditions and diversity of our City. The department provides service with understanding, response with compassion, performance with integrity and law enforcement with vision. The department has grown into a nationally known police department providing law enforcement services to one of the most recognized cities in the United States.

Position Description:

The 8177 Attorney will be given substantial responsibility for handling misconduct cases. The 8177 Attorney will handle assigned cases from the initial notice stage until final disposition of the disciplinary matter. The 8177 Attorney will be required to appear before the San Francisco Police Commission as well as make occasional appearances at the Office of Administrative Hearings in Oakland, California.

Essential functions include, but are not limited to: 

• Advise and assist investigators as to how to investigate allegations of misconduct made against police officers and other Department employees, including compliance with POBRA rules.
• Review investigative case files and provide follow-up guidance regarding allegations of misconduct.
• Prosecute disciplinary cases against Department employee in trials held before the San Francisco Police Commission or the Chief of Police.
  • Draft a charging document based on a review of the investigation.
  • Handle all Chief’s/Skelly Hearings, including preparation of summaries, and final disciplinary letters.
  • Attend settlement conferences.
  • Organize evidence for the presentation at trial, which often includes additional witness preparation and/or investigation.
  • Draft, file, and argue pretrial motions, and respond to motions from the Defense, such as 3304 Motions.
  • Conduct Commission trials, including arguments, trial briefs, preparation and examination of witnesses, and penalty arguments to the Commission.
• Advise on specific disciplinary cases and disciplinary system procedures, including state and local procedural requirements.
• Ensure SFPD is compliant with Government Code §3304 requirements.
• Provide training on disciplinary system issues.
• Draft policy and Unit Orders regarding disciplinary procedures.