State and San Francisco officials have announced the formation of a new multi-agency task force to combat illegal opioid sales in the city.
The task force is expected to be up and running early next year and will include members of the San Francisco Police Department, the city’s District Attorney’s Office, the California Highway Patrol and the California National Guard.
Its mission will be to investigate opioid overdose deaths like homicides and pass along evidence to prosecutors connecting drug deaths to specific dealers.
“We must treat the trafficking and sale of fentanyl more severely and people must be put on notice that pushing this drug could lead to homicide charges,” Mayor London Breed said.
“The opioid crisis has claimed too many, and fentanyl traffickers must be held accountable including, as appropriate, for murder.” Gov. Gavin Newsom
Task force personnel will document deaths, gather evidence and “process intelligence” to track fentanyl sales and go after large criminal organizations.
“The opioid crisis has claimed too many, and fentanyl traffickers must be held accountable including, as appropriate, for murder,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
A similar approach to fighting opioid sales and deaths has been used in San Diego and Fresno, according to the announcement.
‘Another step in the wrong direction?’
San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju said the task force “is another step in the wrong direction toward the continued revival of the failed War on Drugs in SF.”
“Threatening to charge people with murder is unfortunately likely to result in more overdoses, as people will be afraid to call for help,” Raju said.
He said the city needs to invest in evidence-driven harm reduction methods like Narcan and fentanyl testing strips, on-demand addiction and mental health treatment, stable housing, education investments and job training, among other things.