BY RIGOBERTO HERNANDEZ
The Police Commission meeting Wednesday night was the first for new Police Chief George Gascón and the last for longtime Commissioner Theresa Sparks.
Sparks, who served as the commission president for two terms from 2007 up until last month, will be the new executive director for the Human Rights Commission.
“It is with mixed feelings that I leave this post,” she said, but said her new position is full time.
“It will be a disservice to the new post and to the commission if I don’t devote all my time to my new job,” she said.
Sparks, also the CEO of Good Vibrations founded first in the Mission District, made history when she became the first transgendered person elected to be president of the Police Commission.
The departure was sad news for Tenderloin Night Watch Lieutenant Lea Militello.
“When you began, they [at the Tenderloin Station] were unsure,” Militello said. “But they quickly realized you had the best interest at heart, and while they didn’t always agree with you, they knew you made your decisions based on your honor, integrity and your heart, they always felt you lead this commission with best interest in mind. Not one was an LGBT cop. That was your legacy — that is what you should be most proud of.”
Potrero Hill resident Diana Greener said she first became aware of Sparks’ strong leadership when she began coming to the commission meetings in March after several burglaries to her house early this year.
“She listened with empathy and always asked questions,” Greener said.
She added that it was thanks to Sparks that progress has been made towards the burglary investigations.
There is no word yet on who will replace Sparks as commissioner.
At the same time, Gascón received a warm welcome from the community and the five commissioners in attendance.
“Hope you like the seat because you are going to be sitting there a long time,” Commission President Joe Marshall said to Gascón.
The first meeting was a quiet one for the new chief, giving a report no longer than a few sentences.
“I did my rounds around the city,” Gascón said. “I did a lot of walking around before my swearing in — I am sure you have heard some of that from the news. It’s very exciting to be here and I am happy to move forward.”
Marshall, however, said not to be fooled by Gascón’s short report.
“He is very involved in the items that were not in the public discussion,” Marshall said. “He had a lot to say in those sessions.”
One of those items discussed under the closed session was a Court of Appeals decision that ended a sanctuary city policy, which now requires undocumented immigrants who are arrested on drug offenses to be handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Gascón supports providing safe and tolerant environment for undocumented residents, as his former city of Mesa, Ariz. is a sanctuary city. Immigration groups have been lobbying for a change in the policy that would protect juveniles from deportation at east until they are found guilty.
The commissioners also passed a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to approve a settlement — for an undisclosed amount — from a 2007 police brutality lawsuit.
