26-076 Department Recruitment Bonus

Department Notice

San Francisco Police Department

This document is not an official representation of the published policy. To access the official signed policy, please submit a request through our Public Records Request Portal.

26-076
Published: 
Expire: 

The Department is facing an unprecedented sworn staffing challenge which impacts every facet of the organization. Achieving full sworn staffing is a top priority and is critical to officer wellness, individual career development, and the safety of our residents and visitors.

Top Recruiter Bonus Program

Effective July 1, 2026, the Department will implement a Top Recruiter Bonus Program designed to encourage and recognize employees who actively assist in recruiting qualified sworn candidates. The program will operate as follows:

  • Every Department employee (sworn and professional staff) will be issued an individual referral QR code. Instructions on how to access and download the QR code will be distributed via email from [Redacted]
  • The Department will track successful sworn applications submitted through each employee's unique QR code. For purposes of this program, a successful referral is defined as a sworn candidate who ultimately enters the Academy.
  • At the conclusion of Fiscal Year 2026-2027, the top five (5) employees who recruit the highest number of entry-level sworn candidates, and the top five (5) employees who recruit the highest number of lateral sworn candidates, will each receive a $5,000 bonus.
  • Employees are not eligible to receive bonuses in both the entry-level and lateral categories. This limitation is intended to ensure that a total of ten (10) different employees are recognized through the program.

Members are eligible to receive the referral bonus from DN 25-031 (if funds are available) in addition to the Top Recruiter Bonus.

/s/
DERRICK J. LEW
Chief of Police