Some S.F. police watchdog workers say theyve lost confidence in leader

Four employees at the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability sent letters to the Police Commission declaring a lack of confidence in Director Paul Henderson's leadership. They criticized his management of budget cuts, alleging that he targeted experienced staff for layoffs while protecting higher-paid managerial positions. Former policy director Janelle Caywood, who authored one of the letters, threatened legal action after her abrupt firing. Henderson expressed disappointment over the criticism but maintained that he works diligently to represent the city. Supporters of Henderson argue that layoffs were beyond his control, labeling the accusations as unfair.

C. Don Clay, president of the Police Commission, noted the seriousness of the employees' public complaints and plans to investigate. The Department is currently compliant with staffing mandates, but employees claim that reliance on overtime masks a need for more investigators. They warned that further cuts could jeopardize their ability to meet legally mandated timelines.