William Scott

Meet Chief William "Bill" Scott

When William “Bill” Scott was sworn in as San Francisco’s new police chief in January 2017, he vowed to build trust both within the department and outside it.

Scott had previously served for 27 years in the Los Angeles Police Department, where he was a deputy chief. He was selected to lead the SFPD after a nationwide search. Then-Mayor Edwin Lee said a major factor in his choice was Scott’s experience in helping lead the Los Angeles department through transformational progress. 

Scott grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and attended the University of Alabama, where he earned a degree in Accounting. He is married with three children. 

“I am honored to work in the City and County of San Francisco, where residents, community leaders and local stakeholders are actively engaged in the process to help make our Police Department the finest in the nation,” said Chief Scott.   “The members of SFPD are committed to safeguarding lives, preventing crime, enforcing our laws and providing safety with respect to everyone we serve.”