On Thursday, Derrick Lew was officially introduced to San Francisco as the city’s next chief of police. Lew currently serves as a Deputy Chief with the San Francisco Police Department. He was selected by Mayor Daniel Lurie to take the helm of the department following months of work by the San Fran cisco Police Commission developing a final list of candidates for the job. Lew was born and raised in San Francisco, and city leaders note he is well-respected within the department. He will officially take over as chief on December 22. In Lew’s opening remarks to the press on Thursday, he noted that the department is currently ramping up the tools it uses to fight crime. “We’re using technology to take this department into the future, and to solve some of the city’s most challenging crimes,” Lew noted. Lew specifically mentioned using technology as part of his plan to approach leading the city. “I’m just focused on getting to the point of leading the department and continuing the progress we have been making on all fronts you just mentioned: the drug markets, technology, staffing, violent crime — all those things.” Lew said to a reporter. Some city leaders told NBC Bay Area that they see Lew as someone who will help SFPD use technology to help offset staffing shortages in the short term and to detect crime patterns in the long term. Lew will begin leading the department at a time when SFPD is already making major moves to improve its technological resources. Earlier this week, SFPD unveiled its new Real Time Investigation Center (RTIC), which is now fully operational. According to a company spokesperson, Flock supplies the software used in the RTIC, as well as 12 drones, which the center can deploy autonomously to help with deterring things like auto burglaries and smash-and-grab burglaries. Additionally, Flock noted that it also operates 400 license plate reader cameras for the city, in addition to privately owned license plate reader cameras, which can be used to deter or stop crime. The Flock spokesperson explained that police can get a drone to a potential burglary scene in minutes, while license plate readers work to track down the information for potential suspect vehicles. These technologies have been used in hubs around the city, including Union Square, where police have stepped up their presence in the past few years following several high-profile robberies. People visiting Union Square on Thursday said they’ve noticed the impacts of the bolstered crime-fighting efforts in the area. Jazzy Robinson, who was ice skating at Union Square with her five-year-old son, explained that she feels safe bringing her son to the square. “There’s a lot of police officers, security guards,” she said. “I’m a security guard myself, so I know the safety precautions that they have to go through to make sure everybody stays safe and keep the kids safe,” Robinson continued. “I really like it, especially knowing there’s a police officer on every corner and knowing, when we’re out at this time at night,” she said. Nearby, Thomas Senicka had set up a free photo opp for Union Square visitors near the spot where he was busking. Senicka said he’s seen less crime around Union Square compared to where it was three or four years ago. “I would say about 60% better in the last few years,” he said, adding that he still does see some pickpockets nearby. Senicka said he’s seen police responding more quickly to crime, and he believes new technology may be playing a role. “And to see them act that well and respond that fast, I feel much safer now over that,” he said. In general, he said he supports the police department using new technology, including cameras, to prevent crime or find the people responsible. “As long as we can keep the line where it’s not an intrusion of privacy, but for your safety, absolutely,” he said. ...read more read less