The Police IndexStop data: 2024 · Pay and hiring checked Nov 2026
What the job looks like at San Francisco Police
27,268 people stopped in 2024Busiest hour 4pm to 5pmSan Francisco County
San Francisco Police is the police department for the city of San Francisco, in San Francisco County. This page shows what its officers spend their time on, from the stops the department reported to the state for 2024.
People stopped
About 75 a day
27,268 people in 2024. A stop is a detention or search, so calls with no detention are not counted. Most common reason: red light, stop sign or traffic sign, 19%.
What San Francisco Police officers stop people for
Red light, stop sign or traffic sign19%
Lane, turn or right-of-way violation16%
Speeding8%
Theft, burglary or stolen property6%
Registration, plates or insurance6%
Outstanding warrant5%
Drugs5%
Assault, battery, robbery or threats5%
Disturbance or disorderly conduct3%
Phone use while driving2%
Everything else26%
The main reason recorded for each of 27,268 people stopped in 2024, grouped from the offense code.
When the work happens
17% of stops happen between 10pm and 5am.
San Francisco Police
California average
12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Darker means a larger share of stops in that hour.
How the work is done
Each dot is a department in California. San Francisco Police is highlighted.
On foot38% 27th of 374 in California
0%20%40%60%80%
For a traffic violation59% 338th of 374 in California
0%20%40%60%80%100%
After a call for service21% 77th of 374 in California
0%20%40%60%80%100%
Person perceived as unhoused15% 21st of 374 in California
0%20%40%
How stops end
Verbal warning15% 352nd of 374 in California
0%20%40%60%80%
Citation40% 83rd of 374 in California
0%20%40%60%80%
Arrest21% 45th of 374 in California
0%20%40%60%
Psychiatric hold2% 39th of 374 in California
0%20%40%
One person can have more than one outcome, so these do not add to 100%.
Searches and handcuffs
Person searched20% 55th of 374 in California
0%20%40%60%
Handcuffed28% 24th of 374 in California
0%20%40%60%
This page covers the work only. Pay, hiring steps and test rules for this department are not on the site yet. Agencies differ in how consistently they record handcuffing and searches, so small gaps may not be real.