San Francisco officials aim for ‘safe city’ during Pride weekend

San Francisco officials had one message for anyone considering criminal behavior during Pride weekend, which kicks off Friday with the Trans March and ends with the parade and festival Sunday.

“San Francisco is not the place,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said. “We stand for accountability.”

Jenkins was joined by Mayor Daniel Lurie, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Deputy Police Chief Derrick Lew, Fire Chief Dean Crispen and Mary Ellen Carroll, the executive director of the Department of Emergency Management, for a news conference on June 26 outside the San Francisco Police Department headquarters in the Mission Bay neighborhood to detail their preparations for the annual LGBTQ events.

Along with the Trans March, the Dyke March is officially returning Saturday with droves of LGBTQ women expected to congregate for it at Mission Dolores Park earlier in the day. The hourslong Pride parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, while the related celebration in the Civic Center Plaza will take place on both Saturday and Sunday.  

The city has been critiqued on public safety in recent years, and Pride has been a challenging weekend for law enforcement due to the hundreds of thousands of revelers who descend on the city for it. For example, in 2023, a man was arrested for allegedly carrying a loaded, concealed firearm at the Civic Center Plaza.

The previous year, people fled the celebration in terror, falsely believing a mass-casualty shooting had taken place and causing a stampede. Separately, there were physical fights, and someone sprayed pepper spray into the crowd. 

Recent crime statistics, however, show San Francisco has had a significant descent in both reported property and violent crimes. Homicides were at a 60-year low at the end of 2024 and, in the first quarter of 2025, car thefts dropped 41%, according to SFPD statistics. 

“San Francisco is on the rise, and we’re bringing that momentum into Pride,” said Lurie, who will be among the marchers in Sunday’s parade.

The mayor said his “top priority” remains helping the LGBTQ community “feel safe and free to be themselves.”

To that end, police schedules are booked, mobile teams will be strategically placed throughout the city “ready to respond in real time,” and fire and medical personnel will be on the parade route. Lurie said that for real time updates, text your zip code to 888-777.

Updating members of the public will be Carroll’s job from the emergency operations center. She said staff is happy to be helping the city to celebrate safely. People can also text PrideSF to 888-777, she added.

“Many of us will be working together, but Pride weekend is one of our favorite times to be on the emergency operations center because we are there for you for a happy reason,” she said.

Lurie touted recent successes with large-scale events, such as the Lunar New Year parade shortly after he took office, and recent protest activity against the Trump administration. The “No Kings” protest on June 14 drew approximately 50,000 people.

“I am so proud of how we, as a city, have handled these events,” Lurie said. 

Lew gave a few more specifics. He said Pride 2025 is an opportunity to “showcase San Francisco is a safe city.” He noted the department is meeting regularly with community partners and civilians organizing events to celebrate.

As for members of the public, Lew advised people to report suspicious behavior to 911 (or 311 in non-emergencies), “look out for one another,” be aware of one’s wallet, purse and cell phones, drink responsibly and don’t drive drunk. Public transit, taxis or ride-hailing apps are better choices, he said, though one should prepare for traffic delays.

“This is a joyous time for our city, and the SFPD will ensure everyone is safe,” Lew said.

Miyamoto gave similar advice, adding, “Dance like nobody’s watching, but party like public safety is watching,” which drew laughs from attendees.

Crispen urged people to bring water if going in large crowds, because even though cold to moderate temperatures are expected, it may be a long wait in lines to buy water.

Carroll also asked people to thank Public Works employees if they see them; they are the reason Market Street and the Civic Center Plaza are clean by Monday morning. She said the post-parade operation is “the largest planned event clean up operation of the year.” 

Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford, a trans woman, could not make the event because she is busy with preparations for the parade and celebration, Lurie said.

In a statement to the B.A.R. Thursday afternoon, Ford noted, “Every year, SF Pride works closely with the Mayor’s Office and San Francisco Police Department to ensure a safe and joyful celebration for all. We also invest in extensive safety infrastructure - including private security, barricades, and trained volunteers - because public safety is a shared responsibility, not one that rests solely on law enforcement. While we recognize heightened concerns nationally, our level of preparation this year is consistent with what we do every year to keep our community safe and proud.”