i am not here to tell the san francisco police department how to run the agency. i am here to explain to you that in the san francisco sheriff's department we have been using them for eight years. the have been a very effective tool. i would be happy to take any questions you may have, or i can just go home. [laughter] >> i would prefer if we could let the sheriff answer his questions, so he can go. commissioner dejesus: i do have a question. i respect you tremendously. i understand you are the sheriff's department and we're the police department. my only concern is you're in a confined space. you're not dealing with women, teenagers, young people. you're not dealing with people who have guns, a gun battle or a chase, or people on the edge of cliffs or in water. there is a lot more of intangibles when it is out in the field. i have been in the jails. i know it is confined. i know they made to a house weapons. i also know there are situations our department is doing with -- chasing cars, chasing people, mentally ill. i know you have a mental billion -- unit. you hav

i am a lieutenant currently assigned to the homicide detail for san francisco pd and the president of the san francisco police officers pride alliance. we represent the 250 lgbt officers in the san francisco police department. this is an issue that i don't think i have ever seen my members so passionate about. they want another tool for the tool box. my organization over the last couple of years has lost a couple of our members who were involved in shootings. because of the stress of that encounter, they have left our police department. i don't want to see that happen to another officer. i want to see us have another tool to use other than our firearm when dealing with these difficult situations. we come upon violent suspects regularly. we need another force option other than the use of our firearm. i encourage this commission to give it careful thought and allow our officers to have the use of a ced device. thank you very much. >> good evening, president, commissioners. i am the current president for the san francisco latino police officers association. i want to echo what the lieutenant was saying. this is

i'm a member of the tactical units in the san francisco police department. i have been with the police department for 17 years. i am currently an instructor in numerous subject matters, including firearms, diversionary devices, crowd control, use of force, and numerous subject matters that i have been trained in over the years. i was asked to talk about this multi-launcher, which the tactical unit currently deploys with, as it with a possibly been used in the scenario described earlier tonight. i have been through many courses in less-lethal use of force instruction, and there is no magic tool for every circumstance. there is no miracle pill when it comes to less-lethal force option. in the scenario we saw earlier tonight, you had two officers who were responding as regular patrol officers with the tools they had on their person. they did not have the luxury of having additional tools, which you can see are extremely bulky and cumbersome, and not readily deployable. to be able to be carried in vehicles and trucks, as you can see, it has to be taken out the ca

in the meantime, san francisco police are not saying that the body found inside the hotel room is colleen waterman but they are linking the two. now waiting for the san francisco medical examiner's office to perform an autopsy on the woman to determine her identity and cause of death. at this point police say billy waterman is considered a person of interest. now for the latest on him, we'll head down to southern california and throw it over to andy adler of knbc. she is live in river sood county. actually, we'll head inside the studio at cnbc, knbc. we'll do that in a little bit coming up, marla. >> we are having a technical problem with them. we'll talk to them in a bit. >>> meantime, the state attorney general is dropping all charges against one of the main suspects in a high-profile south bay murder. >> prosecutors don't have enough evidence to charge 29-year-o 29-year-old -- they say the public defender found flaws in the investigation including an informant who admitted to be motivated by the $90,000 reward. and cell phone records show the suspect was not in the area at the time of

the reason i am here is because in our study of the san francisco police department we recommended the use of ced's. we looked at the department. we looked at all of the options that were available. we talked to people. we talked to citizens and we talked to police officers. we watched what was going on in the country. the san francisco police department does not use a lot of force, comparatively speaking. this department uses a lot of restraint. we recommended the use of this. we have been around for over 35 years. we are an independent nonprofit. we do a lot of work for the department of justice. i have the network for 17 years. i worked in the boston police department. i have a ph.d. from mit. i have been studying these issues. we've been asked by the department of justice to look of this. in 2005, we are asked to develop guidelines for their use. that was about six years ago. we develop the guidelines. we brought in all sorts of experts. those guidelines came out and are used by most police departments in the country. six years later, in 2011, we brought over 150 people to philadel

i read with interest the recently advertised police chief of san francisco. it stated in part "the city has been implementing an unprecedented series of studies that laid out a framework of fundamental changes for sfpd transforming it into the national mold he will for the 21st century urban policy. the new chief will have the conviction and courage to address problems and tough decisions while setting out what is in the best interests of the department and the community. based on the shooting incidents before my sister was shot many in this community and around the world are watching to see if this city will do what is in the best interest of their communities for which they serve. in closing, tolstoy stated, everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing ones self. i ask your support to adopt the memphis plan and i thank the team from memphis and all their supporters here tonight. thank you very much. [applause] president mazzucco: thank you very much. >> good evening. my name is jeremy miller. over the past come months i have addressed

now, san francisco police are not saying the body found inside the hotel is colleen waterman, but they are linking the two. the san francisco medical examiner's office will perform an autopsy on the woman to determine identity and cause of death. now, at this point police say billy waterman who is missing is a person of interest in this death investigation. he is 51 years old, 6 feet tall, thin build and balding. now, anyone with information about billy waterman is asked to call san francisco police or their local police department with any information. of course, we will continue to follow this story and work to bring you the very latest. live in san francisco, marla tellez, "today in the bay." >>> thank you, marla. now the state attorney general is dropping all charges zbens one of the suspects in a high-profile south bay murder. prosecutors say they do not have enough evidence to charge 29-year-old or a 29-year-old man. the mercury news reports that the decision comes after a public defender discovered flaws in the information, including an informant who admitted to being motivated

the president of the san francisco police officer associate in has made for himself a contract. they want to fulfill the mission to become the highest fulfiled police force in the nation. the deputy chief earned $516,000 a year in 2009. if you use the 30-year formula, he will kit and retirement of $464,000 a year which will sort of work out over the next few years. you notice that his annual pay is 163,000. there is a way to get the $96,000 pretty easily, cut back on overtime. the deputy chief -- earned $405,000 in 2009. that will earn him $83,000 a year. -- thought that the year he was going to retire. it seems that we have a round robin going. they get to it to thousands of dollars in overtime and get thousands in pay. >> i am president of the san francisco police officers association i just came to talk about going through mine campaign. what do you see as your particular assignment? i know that we are fully aware that there is a budget crunch and we are aware of an economic downturn. it is important to remember that the basic tenet of any police department is to respond to ca

people do have been following the efforts might recall that the san francisco police department and the mayor's office released a report on the state of community policing. that report laid out a strategy for the city and county of san francisco and outlined specific things that needed to to happen. that report confirms that the san francisco police department embraces the community policing philosophy and is committed to expanding best practices. the report defines this is not only as a policing philosophy that emphasizes problem-solving. at the time that the report was released, there was a director of community policing that was going to implement 44 new foot patrols and this would create an extensive training programs throughout the city. the report indicated that the mayor's office is going to solicit technical assistance from national experts. the purpose is to have a discussion about where those efforts are today. which one of those strategies have been implemented and the report being followed. community policing maintains safe communities. this has become the benchmark of polic

i am not saying this about the san francisco police officers. i have met many, and those officers are excellent as a comparing and statchtri enforcement person. but i am telling you there is a lot of stigma and prejudice not because they are law enforcement officers. but is there stigma and prejudice within the community? the law enforcement is just a reflection of the community.

i am not saying this about the san francisco police officers. i have met many, and those officers are excellent as a comparing and statchtri enforcement person. but i am telling you there is a lot of stigma and prejudice not because they are law enforcement officers. but is there stigma and prejudice within the community? the law enforcement is just a reflection of the community. c.i.t. helps understanding mental illness in a way of addressing some alternatives. i can't give you absolutes, but i can assure you a c.i.t. officer in performance of his duty will be diligently seeking and searching and accomplishing, i believe, those other alternatives that they are faced with.

wearing dark clothes and was armed with a weapon. >>> a heated debate is expected at tonight's san francisco police commission meeting. the commission will discuss arming officers with tasers and vote on it possibly. also how to deal with mentally disturbed suspects. recent police shootings involving mentally impeople has prompted the commission to look at new ways of training officers. the commission will hear from mental health experts and the memphis police department, which is known for having one of the best plans in the nation. we are going to have a live report at 5:00. >>> and the two officers who shot and killed an oakland barbershop owner last november will not be charged by the alameda county d.a. 37-year-old derrick jones was shot when police responded to a domestic dispute. officers say he reached for his waistband and they saw a shiny object that turned out to be a small electronic scale. >>> san francisco is trying to lure a major tech company to a neighborhood. a man who was talking with a woman near 6th and market streets grabbed her wallet and took off. you can see it here. the mu

san francisco police telling their daughter, she tells us that police are calling this a murder case and the victim may be colleen. that's what san francisco police are reportedly saying. we have some video of the scene out here last night after crews found the couple's car parked illegally near devil's slide. no sign of anyone. crews repelled down the side of the cliffs to search the rocks below. nothing down there. a sheriff's department spokesperson telling abc news the search is an effort to find billy waterman, not colleen. if you add the homicide investigation and this being more of a search for the husband, maybe investigators have found colleen's body or evidence that there was foul play. we don't know. but we do know investigators say the investigation is going to continue this morning down here. we don't know if that means that more closures for highway 1 down here near devil's slide. i'm terry mcsweeney. back to you. >> thanks, terry, for the update. an employ at kaiser is under investigation this morning accused of inappropriate behavior. the hospital says a patient report

will submit this copy to you to show that federal police officers have paid 20% less than san francisco police officers for the same job at the same qualifications. as you look for a new police chief, part of the problem is that you have submitted the applications because every police chief including -- is coming here to get a paycheck. and he has taken $500,000 with him for 17 months of work. you have to start looking at that in light of the budget whole. when the biggest problems is that the police officers association pushing the 10% compound increases in pensions and salaries in this county that are impossible to meet in the next several years. i believe that you read a couple of days ago that it was caught with how police chiefs are leaving with half a million dollars and taking other jobs by cutting back pay. this is unconscionable with a commission of this nature. this is not stop of a repeat of the county of san francisco. this is sickening compared with other work skills. i am leaving you with copies. >> my name is mr. harrison. i was here and january 19th in regards to my brother who

and the third is that the san francisco police department investigate the shootings of michael lee, fit eafment wi, and randall douglas. and i have give you a copy of the recommendations. >> hi, my name is sonia mason. i'm from oakland, california, and i have acknowledged a lot of hurt on the homeless here in san francisco. i think every person who might be homeless, i think don't think they should be shot at in wheelchairs. i think everybody should be treated like a human being. as a human. i can safely say if you looked like george bush's daughter or any of you panels' kids were in the same position, i think you would feel as i do. i am just speaking as a person and a humanist who respects everybody, and everybody should be treated with respect. i recently interviewed some people who were homeless, and they were saying how, you know, everybody takes away from them. they have no homes to go to. they have no place to live in. that is hard. it gets hard on people like that. and people who are disabled which enables a lot of people to get disabled, for the most part. so i'm saying as a hu

the common practice that court is saying is against the law. >>> no word on who will be san francisco's next police chief but no questions about who people in san francisco say they don't want. >>> good morning, san mateo bridge that traffic looks pretty good heading out to the high-rise. we'll tell you more about the morning commute and bay weather. >>> in egypt protestors are turning out in massive numbers angry about president must be's latest refusal to step dun. as alison burns report there is is frustration and confusion at the white house this morning. alison. >> reporter: pam, president obama does seem to be taking his toughest stance yet against egypt's president after hosni mubarak surprised everyone and announced last night he staying in office. let's take a look here at the statement issued by president obama after mubarak's speech. he said the egyptian government must put forward a credible concrete and unequivocal path toward genuine democracy. it was expected in the obama administration that he would announce his resignation last night. part of what set off that expectation were comm

. >> san francisco police dramatically changing the way officers deal with mentally ill suspects. ey will create a s.w.a.t. team of specially trained officers for such a situation. >> here's a live look downtown san francisco. it's clear and calm once again and more frost is warming our inland valleys. i'll show you those temperatures, update you on the cooling trend this weekend and the rain for next week. >> and in san francisco there's a fatal accident this early morning and it may be blocking the intersection of gearry. we'll give you more details on that. for now not much of a delay at the bay bridge toll plaza. >> and a san jose judge will decide this morning whether a man accused of assaulting a priest that he claims abused him as a child will stand trial. 4:31 this thursday morning. thanks for joining us. i'm eric thomas. >> i'm kristen sze. topping our news, this is the day cal athletes in several sports will find out if the program will be saved or cut. the decision, not breaking federal law and not breaking the bank. terry mcsweeney is live at u.c. berkeley. terry? >> yo

san francisco. i've been a police officer for 26 years. my experiences are great and many. i'm also a hostage crisis negotiator with the police department. many times the people that we deal with, we dealt with before. so i applaud everybody's efforts here. i think that the selection process for the officers that are going to be engaged in this needs to be looked at very strongly. we want officers that have experience that have been in the department for a substantial amount of time. i think it takes maybe eight inform 10 years -- eight to 10 years to define what it means to be an effective police officer. i think when we consider what's at stake here -- and we're all stakeholders. from the outside, community, people worried about their safety, to people that are definitely affected by a mental health crisis, we are all stakeholders here. we want to put our best foot forward so we can be advocates on this issue throughout the entire spectrum. thank you very much. vice president marshall: i would like to ask a couple questions. this resolution is a wonderful program. that's

thank you. -- you will hire police chiefs at $500,000 a year. >> i am a proud resident of san francisco and a former senior police secretary. i don't want to see the city going down the tubes. i am a bonafide in that case -- nutcase compliments of my husband. on one side of being a nut cake, you have a predator who does not plan on doing crime at the sign. that is a mental person. they transfer to the closest police station and i have a rap sheet. i have yet to see any of my reports. i passed my written test with a perfect score. when i hear about all of this mental training for our police officers, it means they are supposed to be shocked before they can take action. i will again state might ex husband took part in the assassination of a california highway patrol officer. there was a california highway patrolman shot just from walking down the front stairs of that building. isn't it nice to make sure that he has a clean record the matter what? thank you. >> the taser issue was talked about last night. overwhelming support. the cost savings. we have workers' compensation for our officer

there is a report and it said that half a dozen san francisco police shootings could have been avoided if officers carried taserings. opponents disagree. they do not think the number of police-involved shootings will go down just because they're armed with tasers. they plan to fight hard against them tonight. a heated meeting tonight in san francisco. live in san francisco, amy hollyfield, abc 7 news. >> amy, thank you. it's 4:35. the operations of a state narcotics task force have been suspended until investigators have a chance to audit and inspect the force. that's after the commander in charge normal welsh was arrested selling drugs seized during raids. he was helped by christopher butler, a private investigator. both men were arraigned on 28 felony counts last week. prosecutors said they sold marijuana, methamphetamine, steroids and other drugs. they'll be back in court next week to enter pleas. >> family and friends will hold a candlelight vigil for two students killed in a rafting accident. grief counselors were on hand when students returned to the high school for the first tim

san francisco general hospital right there. it parallels highway 101. we're showing you the map because the police officers are actually gonna make our crew move. so potrero avenue is one of san francisco's major streets. here we go. this will be the last picture from this area. in is sa busy street. muni lines come across it. you would see a lot of cars. >> would there be any alternatives for people who want to drive through the area. i would say highway 101 is an alternative. you can go down maybe bryant street getting down into the mission district. you can go down to south van ness instead of potrero. if you want to be on the other side of the freeway you can go to highway 280, interstate 280 and get, you know -- basically, it's a north/south route here in san francisco. they are making a move. we have to go. we'll be back with more. >> all right. we'll continue to follow this story. these are explosives at 19th and potrero. robot in the building. we will -- i guess we're able to stay here. we can see the rebought moving right now. >> hey, sal, i gotta ask you a question. the whole block is bl

i am not saying this about the san francisco police officers. i have met many, and those officers are excellent as a comparing and statchtri enforcement person. but i am telling you there is a lot of stigma and prejudice not because they are law enforcement officers. but is there stigma and prejudice within the community? the law enforcement is just a reflection of the community. c.i.t. helps understanding mental illness in a way of addressing some alternatives. i can't give you absolutes, but i can assure you a c.i.t. officer in performance of his duty will be diligently seeking and searching and accomplishing, i believe, those other alternatives that they are faced with. vice president marshall: let me say a couple more things and then i will pass it off. we have had officer-involved shootings. not involving those with mental illness, but sometimes people say, why not just shoot-out the tire. well, that makes it worse. people suggested things that could happen. here's what i hear you saying. let me use a model. that's important to me. school r

this is the portion of inner richmond in san francisco is the area where san francisco police department did confirm this was fatal accident. three blocks of geary boulevard are closed so your alternates, california street or balboa street. if they have to block portions of arguello the avenue is the alternate. we have ongoing roadwork on the upper deck from treasure island until 5:00 this morning various lanes closed, no delay approaching the bay bridge toll plaza. no metering lights, not for another couple of hours or so. also, we have this accident up in sonoma county southbound 101 at least one lane is blocked. chp just arrived on scene. so we didn't have a lot of details. back to you. >>> a natural gas explosion in pennsylvania has spawned fires, downtown power lines and hundreds of people forced from their homes. as many as six people are unaccounted for now after an explosion that happened last night. firefighters expect a total of 8 houses are lost at this hour and 16 others have been damaged. the blast blew out windows at a senior citizens center, several other structures caught