San Francisco Police Patrol Special

The San Francisco Police Patrol Special is a private neighborhood patrol service regulated by the San Francisco Police Department. The services provided by Patrol Special officers are offered to private businesses, associations, and individuals at no cost to the taxpayers of San Francisco.

The San Francisco Police Patrol Special traces its history as far back as 1847. The Patrol Special service was eventually formalized and incorporated by San Francisco City Charter and it is currently the only private law enforcement force authorized to patrol San Francisco streets, access police databases, and utilize city radio frequencies.

The Patrol Special was originally formed to protect store merchants from increased violence against their shops. Officers of today continue to be hired by store merchants and private citizens alike to provide a law enforcement patrol presence in areas where the traditional police may not have the time or resources to go.

The official mission of the San Francisco Patrol Special Police is to make the communities which they serve better places to live and work.

Members of the San Francisco Patrol Special are required to meet medical and background requirements as established by the San Francisco Police Department. Patrol Special Officers are trained at the San Francisco Police Academy (or an equivalent) and must fulfill requirements of the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training. Officers are trained on an annual basis and are required to qualify with their duty weapons at least once a year.

Services offered by Patrol Special officers include basic patrol service during business and non-business hours, response to emergencies, escort services, interior and exterior building checks, alarm response, and unsecured property security.

The San Francisco Police Commission is responsible for assigning Patrol Special officers as "owners" of geographic territories which they are responsible for patrolling. Any person may be appointed as the "owner" of a territory so long as they meet the requirements to become a Patrol Special officer, are approved by the Police Commission, and maintain good moral character.