The labor union representing U.S. Park Police officers is advising people to stay away from San Francisco’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Presidio National Park this summer “due to an officer staffing crisis” it says makes the parks unsafe for visitors.
The warning, issued in a news release from the United States Park Police Fraternal Order of Police Tuesday afternoon, says that “families should avoid unnecessary travel” to San Francisco’s national parks because of what it calls “an officer staffing crisis.”
According to the union, the San Francisco Field Office of the U.S. Park Police has just 11 officers available to patrol the Presidio and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which includes Fort Mason, Fort Point, Land End, Baker Beach, Ocean Beach and Fort Funston in San Francisco. Almost daily, overtime is required to make sure the police force meets the minimum staffing level of three patrol officers for the Presidio, which is required in a contract with the trust that runs the Presidio.
“With the Memorial Day holiday weekend here, millions of American families are putting the final touches on their summer vacation plans,” said Kenneth Spencer, chairman of the union, in the release. “It saddens me to say that those plans should not include visits to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area or the Presidio because, simply put, they are not safe.”
Asked by The Chronicle why visitors should feel unsafe, Spencer said the lack of policing could spoil a nice day at Baker Beach, for example.
“Whether your car is broken into, your wallet is taken from your beach towel, or even if you simply get sick and need emergency care, the lack of available officers spells disaster for innocent tourists and families,” Spencer said. Given this reality, we are recommending they avoid the area until the National Park Service and Congress address this crisis in recruitment and retention.”
Officials with the U.S. Park Police and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area disputed the union’s assertion that visitors are unsafe.
“The safety of our staff and visitors is always our top priority and park areas remain open and available to the public we serve, especially during the last few years of this difficult pandemic,” said Charlie Strickfaden, a spokesman for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Spencer said the staff at the San Francisco field office has been dwindling gradually. Currently, it has 32 sworn personnel but just 11 patrol officers. Two years ago, the office had 50 sworn officers. The office should have 83 sworn personnel, he said. A number of officer retirements are also looming, he said.
According to the union, while staffing is down, crime is up. During the current fiscal year, which began in October, San Francisco’s U.S. Park Police fielded 9,511 calls for service — 3,092 of which were emergencies, including 13 sexual assaults, 100 calls for disorderly conduct and 193 burglaries or larcenies, including car breakins, Spencer said. They also assisted San Francisco police on 359 calls. He did not have year to year comparisons.
While police forces around the Bay Area — and across the nation — are short-staffed, Spencer blamed the problem in San Francisco on the disparity in pay between what the U.S. Park Police and local police departments are paying. He said a starting salary for a U.S. Park Police Officer is $67,769 per year while San Francisco police receive a starting salary of $92,560.
“Staffing levels at the U.S. Park Police have reached crisis levels,” Spencer said.
The Fraternal Order of Police is prohibited from negotiating salaries, which are set by Congress, but it can and does advocate for legislation such as HR 3924, which Spencer believes would help restore staffing levels. He said the bill has bipartisan support but has been stalled.
“We want to get Speaker Pelosi’s attention,” Spencer said. “We want to work with (her) on this. She loves the Presidio, we love the Presidio and we want to be able to do our job. We’re hoping she steps in.”
Michael Cabanatuan (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
