At the time of founding on August 13, 1849, Chief Malachi Fallon had a force of one deputy captain, three sergeants, and thirty officers.
The police force is largely made up of ex-bandits, and naturally the members are interested above all in saving their old friends from punishment.
[5] The city quickly obtained a court order declaring the strike illegal and enjoining the SFPD back to work.
[5] On August 20, a bomb detonated at the Mayor's home with a sign reading "Don't Threaten Us" left on his lawn.
[9] On August 21, Mayor Alioto advised the San Francisco Board of Supervisors that they should concede to the strikers' demands.
Mayor Alioto immediately then declared a state of emergency, assumed legislative powers, and granted the strikers' demands.
[10] City Supervisors and taxpayers sued but the court found that a contract obtained through an illegal strike is still legally enforceable.
[11] On September 8, 2011, ground was broken for San Francisco's new Public Safety Building (PSB) in Mission Bay.