First Woman Picked to Lead S.F. Police

Making good on a campaign promise to reform the city’s beleaguered Police Department, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced Sunday that he had replaced Chief Alex Fagan with a 26-year veteran and the first woman to run the department.

At a Vietnamese New Year’s festival in the city’s Little Saigon neighborhood, Newsom appeared with Assistant Chief Heather Fong, 47, who will take over for Fagan as acting chief.

“It’s time to move this department in a new direction,” Newsom said Sunday, with Fong standing in uniform at his side.

Newsom had vowed to bring new leadership to a department still reeling from months of turmoil following the so-called “fajitagate” scandal that began in November 2002. The scandal stemmed from a street brawl over a bag of steak fajitas involving three off-duty officers, including Fagan’s son.

Allegations that the department blocked an investigation into the brawl led to the indictments of Fagan, who was then assistant chief, as well as former Chief Earl Sanders and five other top commanders in March.

The indictments were quickly dropped, but Sanders stepped down for medical reasons and Fagan was named acting chief.

Newsom said he had appointed Fagan to head the city’s Office of Emergency Services, which handles a range of security matters and disaster relief.

Newsom spokesman Peter Ragone said that although the mayor believed Fagan was well qualified for his new position, he also felt strongly that a new chief was needed to restore public confidence in the Police Department.

“Fajitagate was one incident,” Ragone said.

“But there is a widespread belief that the department really needs reform, and really needs new leadership to make that happen.”

Meanwhile, a nationwide search for a permanent police chief will continue.

Newsom said he wants Fong to be considered along with other candidates to fill the No. 1 post permanently.

When asked if her duties as acting chief is a tryout for the permanent position, Fong said, “My whole career has been a tryout.”

Fong, who served briefly as acting chief after Sanders and Fagan were indicted, said she wants to review investigation and discipline issues, and improve technology within the department.

“I am very excited,” Fong said of her new position.

Newsom’s appointment of Fong means the top posts in the city’s police and fire departments are held by women. On Friday, Newsom swore in the city’s first female fire chief, Joanne Hayes-White.

The city Police Commission is expected to confirm Fong’s appointment on Wednesday.