In October 2023, a rowdy group of homeless individuals began squatting in a home located in the Castro. The noise from their nightly gatherings kept nearby residents awake, prompting multiple calls to the police.
While trespassing cases are not prioritized by the San Francisco Police Department, they became a significant concern for David Burke, the District 8 public-safety liaison. Not every district in San Francisco has such a liaison, but the three that do—Districts 4, 8, and 11—benefit from having a direct link between residents, city supervisors, and the police. This liaison focuses on “quality-of-life” issues that are often overlooked by police, creating a critical bridge for community engagement.
Burke investigated the squatting situation, recognizing one of the occupants as someone with a suspicious past, having previously set fires. Armed with this information, he elevated the case to the police, who took the matter seriously and removed the squatters from the home.
Simultaneously, Burke collaborated with the city attorney’s office to contact the homeowner, currently residing in New York, to secure the property. Local business owner Terry Asten Bennett praised Burke’s effectiveness, noting, “He’s an amazing resource for getting stuff done in the Castro.”
Residents have discovered that while reaching the police or city attorney can be challenging, Burke’s involvement often leads to swift action. District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman acknowledged Burke’s ability to “respond quickly” and stressed that his support is invaluable to the community.
The question arises: with issues of accountability emphasized by Mayor Daniel Lurie’s administration, why are public-safety liaisons limited to only three districts? The primary factor is budget constraints. The city has cut 470 positions and slashed $185 million from contracting over two years.
In District 4, Supervisor Joel Engardio allocated extra community funds to create a liaison position in 2024. However, in Districts 8 and 11, the roles are included in the $850 million annual police budget. Supervisor Myrna Melgar and Matt Dorsey argued that, with a significant reduction in police staffing, funds should be allocated for hiring sworn officers rather than civilian liaisons, even while recognizing the positive community engagement model they provide.
“Public safety liaisons” were introduced in 2018 following efforts by then District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, who utilized funds from his office’s budget to establish roles within the San Francisco Police Department. Currently, liaisons earn slightly more than newly hired officers. Burke, who has 18 years of experience in city government, reportedly makes $113,000 annually, while a new police officer’s salary starts at $131,000, and a supervisor’s aide earns $146,000.
Supervisors are thankful for the presence of liaisons in their districts. Engardio highlighted the contributions of his liaison, Vindy Chan, in helping residents feel heard, especially in light of anti-Asian hate incidents during the pandemic. Chan has provided guidance to merchants on how to prevent break-ins, connected homeless individuals to shelters, and offered community workshops to raise awareness about scams.
Similarly, District 11’s liaison, Sam Berenson, has been described as an incredible resource. Supervisor Chyanne Chen emphasized Berenson’s essential contributions to neighborhood safety, including securing blighted properties to prevent unauthorized access and setting up barriers to deter encampment growth.
Public-safety liaisons often play a crucial role in navigating the complexities of the city’s bureaucracy, which can be daunting for average residents. Having previously worked as an investigator in the city attorney’s office, Burke possesses an extensive understanding of how various city departments operate, which can be opaque to most.
He often handles requests that would typically be directed to high-level officials, saying, “I like the mayor. He is a dynamic guy. He really seems to care…But he’s a busy guy.”
Burke efficiently directs issues concerning community safety, such as graffiti removal, by establishing direct lines to relevant departments. For example, he stated, “There’s some hateful graffiti on a power box? I got a guy. I can have that gone in an hour.”
In summary, public-safety liaisons in San Francisco serve as vital connections between residents and city services, playing a key role in improving community engagement and addressing local safety concerns.
image source from：missionlocal
