As San Francisco grapples with concerns over public safety and violent crime, a growing number of high-profile tech companies are turning to a specific solution: hiring off-duty police officers to guard their offices and employees.
Through a city program known as “10B,” corporations are bypassing traditional private security firms in favor of uniformed, armed officers. This trend highlights a growing divide in the city, where the world’s most valuable AI and software companies are increasingly insulating themselves from the urban environment they inhabit.
The Cost of Safety
Public records obtained by WIRED reveal the significant sums being paid to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to secure corporate interests. While many view police as a public service, for these companies, they are a high-end, on-demand security commodity.
Key spending figures from 2024 include:
– Salesforce: Spent approximately $727,907 through a security vendor to protect its downtown offices and the Salesforce Tower, including nearly $41,000 for its annual conference.
– Airbnb: Allocated roughly $428,443 for the presence of armed, uniformed officers.
– Apple: Through a third-party firm, Apple spent over $1.2 million to secure three retail locations.
– The San Francisco Giants: The city’s largest spender, with a bill approaching $1.9 million for game-day security.
Under the 10B program, companies pay the same hourly rates as the city, including overtime. In early 2024, a standard officer cost $135 per hour, while a lieutenant could command nearly $190 per hour during night shifts.
Why Tech is Paying Up
The demand for specialized police protection has been fueled by high-profile security threats. Recent incidents, such as a suspected attempt to target OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have underscored the physical risks facing tech executives.
While major AI players like OpenAI and Anthropic are not regular “rent-a-cop” customers, they have engaged the service for one-off needs. For instance, OpenAI paid small amounts for coverage at the Asian Art Museum. In contrast, older tech giants like Salesforce and Airbnb have maintained these arrangements for years, suggesting a long-term strategy of “visual presence” to deter crime.
The 10B Program: Benefits and Controversies
The ability for officers to “moonlight” is common; an estimated 80% of police departments in the U.S. allow some form of off-duty work. Proponents, including former SFPD leadership, argue the program is a “win” because it increases officer visibility without costing taxpayers a cent.
However, the program is not without its critics. City officials and law enforcement experts have raised several red flags:
- Conflicts of Interest: There are concerns that officers might prioritize private clients over public safety duties.
- Resource Mismanagement: Critics suggest officers might abuse sick leave to pick up more lucrative, “easier” private security shifts.
- Burnout and Disparity: Constant overtime can lead to officer fatigue, and the program creates a disparity where wealthy corporations receive high-level protection while other neighborhoods may lack resources.
- Effectiveness: Experts note there is no definitive research proving that hiring off-duty police is more effective than hiring standard private security guards.
A Fragmented Cityscape
The use of the 10B program paints a picture of a city where security is increasingly tiered by wealth. From luxury retailers like Lululemon and Sephora to massive tech campuses, the presence of police is often a purchased luxury.
This creates a paradox: while San Francisco’s violent crime rates have been on a downward trend in recent years, the massive investment by the tech sector suggests that, for the city’s most influential players, the perceived risk remains high enough to justify millions in private spending.
The rise of corporate-funded policing in San Francisco reflects a broader trend where private capital is used to bridge the gap between public safety concerns and the specific security needs of the tech industry.
Conclusion: As tech companies continue to fund specialized police presence, San Francisco faces an ongoing debate over whether this provides genuine safety or merely creates a “pay-to-play” model of law enforcement that benefits the few at the expense of the many.
