San Francisco sheriff's union compares overtime to 'slavery,' with some earning $200,000 in OT per year

The San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs' Association recently called the overtime their union members work “slavery.”

The union wrote on its website in April: “Overtime slavery: San Francisco Sheriff's Office struggles amid increasing violence and staffing shortages. »

“Within the walls of the San Francisco Sheriff's Office, a disturbing reality is revealed. Deputies, the front-line warriors of law enforcement, are stretched to their limits by an inflexible demand for overtime,” the San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs Association said in the post.

The union said its deputies sleep an average of 5.25 hours a night due to overtime.

What the union hasn't said is how much compensation its members receive for overtime hours worked.

In 2023, a senior deputy sheriff earned $402,472 in overtime and had a total salary of $580,333.

In 2023, 10 San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs' Association union members earned $200,000 or more in overtime.

Funding for the Sheriff's Office increased from $204 million in fiscal year 2019 to $244 million in fiscal year 2023. Costs for the San Francisco Police Department and Sheriff's Office increased from $746 million in fiscal year 2019 to $890 million in fiscal year 2023.

The union cited examples that trigger overtime, such as the blocking of the Golden Gate Bridge by anti-Israel protesters in April.

“The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office is in the midst of a staffing crisis, which is severely impacting its ability to maintain security and respond effectively to emergencies,” the union said in a press release. “The recent blockade of the Golden Gate Bridge by pro-Palestinian protesters highlighted the department's challenges, with off-duty deputies urgently called in to address the situation due to staffing shortages. … We are short of deputy sheriffs!”

The city said in budget documents that it will prioritize hiring 75 new sheriff's deputies in 2024-25 and 2025-26. The sheriff's office was projected for 1,002 full-time jobs in 2023.

The city said it also faces a staffing shortage within its municipal police force. An analysis in January 2024 found it had 1,589 sworn employees, 485 fewer than the recommended level.