During the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill moved to begin the formal process of removing William Palmer from the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board. Sherrill cited a city investigation that found Palmer misused his position on the board.
On Sept. 11, San Francisco’s Office of the Inspector General found Palmer to be responsible for six instances of misconduct involving 14 violations of the city’s ethics code. The findings stem from two encounters with law enforcement. One involved a December traffic stop.
According to the inspector general’s report, Palmer repeatedly identified himself as president of the Sheriff’s Oversight Board. He invoked his connections to city officials, which investigators characterized as seeking special treatment.
Another incident occurred in July, when police encountered Palmer with a woman they were investigating as missing. He had attempted to contact the woman at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Investigators found that he used his official title and board credentials in an attempt to gain access to her without official authority.
“This motion is based on a months-long investigation, based on good journalism,” said Sherrill. “Today’s motion is going to be regarding suspending William Palmer from the Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board, on charges of misconduct. It’s a long process, and there will be plenty of chances for everyone to dig in. So that we can ensure this oversight board gets focused on our Sheriff’s Department and the jails in the city and not focused on ancillary topics that distract.”
Sherrill noted that the people in leadership are upholding the duties of the position.
Earlier controversy
In fact, Palmer’s tenure on the oversight board has drawn controversy for months. In May, The Voice of San Francisco reported that he had been arrested on allegations of false imprisonment and battery involving a cohabitant or spouse.
The Voice also detailed an earlier criminal case in which the district attorney’s office sought dismissal of five charges, including sodomy, false imprisonment, and sexual battery by restraint, citing a lack of evidence.
Moreover, the San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association has called for Palmer’s resignation, citing concerns including his use of his oversight-board position during a traffic stop.
What happens next
Sherrill’s motion formally starts the misconduct process, but suspending Palmer from his post early requires a multistep process.
Unless Palmer is convicted of a new serious crime, the city is required to pursue official misconduct proceedings, including a hearing before the Ethics Commission. After that, it will return to the Board of Supervisors for a final vote. At that stage, nine of the 11 supervisors would have to support his removal.
