San Francisco will soon hire recently retired police officers to staff concerts, other events and homeless shelters — the city’s latest effort to grow the ranks within its short-staffed police force, the mayor’s office announced Monday.
Officials said the plan, which the city and police union agreed upon late last month, is expected to free up current officers for patrol and investigative duties and cut down the use of overtime, which the department oftentimes relies on to provide security at events and locations such as shelters.
The city plans to hire and deploy retirees by the fall, according to Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office. The retirees — projected to total about 50 to 100, or more if necessary — will work in a part-time capacity as needed and collect an hourly salary, without benefits. They will be in uniforms and equipped like any other officer, assigned to events such as concerts, parades and festivals, as well as shelters and navigation centers, a type of shelter that offers intensive case management services. The program is open to retirees with state certifications, which generally remain active for three years after retirement…