SF Mayor Daniel Lurie announces Steven Betz as new public safety chief
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has appointed Steven Betz as the city's new public safety chief, making the announcement in an ABC7 Eyewitness News interview.
Betz has served as the assistant public safety chief for the past year after joining the Mayor's Office, but was previously a longtime attorney for the San Francisco Police Department.
In a release on the announcement, Lurie's Office says there has been a significant crime drop under his administration, with a 25% overall decrease in 2025.
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In his new role, Betz will work across public safety departments to coninue to reduce crime through the Rebuilding the Ranks initiative. He will also work to disrupt open-air drug markets through the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center.
"I've been clear since day one that public safety is my top priority. And Steven Betz has been a key leader in our work to keep San Franciscans safe and reduce crime by 30%," Mayor Lurie said in the release. "Steven has played a central role in bringing together public safety agencies to advance our shared efforts to make the city safer. I look forward to continuing to work with him to keep San Francisco safer for all of our residents and visitors."
"I'm grateful and eager to step into this role at such a critical moment for San Francisco," Betz said in the release. "After nearly a decade working inside the Police Department, I know how hard our public safety professionals work and how much they care about this city. That experience will shape how I approach this job," said Betz. "Public safety doesn't happen in silos. Our city departments share a common mission, and I'm proud to have strong relationships across all of them. San Francisco has made real progress: Crime is down, we're bringing more officers onto the force, and we're using more effective approaches to tackle drug use. There is more work ahead, and I intend to approach it with the same rigor and commitment that has guided my career in public service."
Watch ABC7 Eyewitness News' full interview with Lurie below:
