San Francisco's tech industry increasingly relies on city police officers for private security, with companies like Salesforce and Airbnb spending significant sums to ensure a visible law enforcement presence at their facilities. Salesforce alone paid an estimated $727,907 through a vendor in 2024 for officer protection, while Airbnb spent approximately $428,443 that same year, according to newly available public records. This practice highlights a growing trend of private entities leveraging public resources, a dynamic some city officials find problematic.
The movement of X, formerly Twitter, out of San Francisco in 2024 by Elon Musk, citing "horrific" violent crime and business considerations, brought renewed focus to security within the city’s tech sector. Other prominent technology firms, however, have opted to address their safety concerns by integrating directly with local law enforcement. They pay for a dedicated police presence.
Salesforce, a cloud software giant, secured police services for its downtown offices, including the iconic Salesforce Tower. The company's financial commitment extended to nearly $41,000 for officer deployment at its TrailblazerDX 2024 conference, hosted within the city’s convention center. These expenditures, detailed in public records, show how deeply intertwined private security needs have become with public policing resources.
Airbnb, the online lodging marketplace, also maintains a consistent police presence. The company's 2024 expenditure of over $428,000 for uniformed, armed officers demonstrates a substantial, ongoing commitment to this security model. These payments, previously unreported, reveal a significant revenue stream for the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) program.
Security practices across San Francisco's tech landscape gained particular scrutiny following an incident targeting OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. A man allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman's home and attempted to breach OpenAI’s headquarters by ramming a chair into its glass doors. Authorities claim the suspect had authored a document criticizing AI technologies, outlining a goal to kill Altman and referencing other AI executives.
He faces state and federal prosecution. Yet, despite this high-profile event, OpenAI and Anthropic, two leading generative AI developers based in the city, have not been regular participants in the city’s rent-a-cop program, according to SFPD spokesperson Allison Maxie. They use it sparingly.
The contracting program, locally known as 10B, derives its authority from a specific section of city code. It permits any individual, company, or organization to request additional personnel or equipment for "law enforcement purposes," provided the police chief grants approval. Under this arrangement, companies pay officers at the same hourly rates as the city, including overtime.
In early 2024, a standard officer cost $135 per hour during the day. A lieutenant could command nearly $190 per hour at night, records indicate. The math does not add up for some critics, who question if the public benefits sufficiently.
The 10B program is not exclusive to tech. It sees frequent use by organizations hosting large events like concerts and conferences, as well as sports teams requiring extra security. The San Francisco Giants baseball team was the largest spender in 2024, with a bill approaching $1.9 million.
Several National Basketball Association teams collectively paid about $16,500 for police escorts that year. These figures illustrate the breadth of the program's application. Many tech companies utilize the program on a one-off basis.
OpenAI, for example, paid $813.43 for unspecified coverage at the Asian Art Museum in 2024. Microsoft incurred a single bill of $1,622.16. Zoox, an autonomous vehicle company, ran a tab of $838.43.
Zoox spokesperson Marisa Wiggam confirmed police protected a large offsite employee gathering and stated the company remains open to future use. Microsoft and Affirm declined to comment. The other companies did not respond to inquiries.
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Regular customers extend beyond tech, encompassing houses of worship, office building landlords, retail stores, and bank branches. Apple, Bank of America, Best Buy, Bloomingdale’s, Chase, Lululemon, and Sephora are among those listed in records. Security Industry Specialists, a firm, paid over $1.2 million in 2024 for coverage at three Apple stores, making it the second-largest customer that year.
This widespread adoption suggests a perceived value. Humane, a hardware startup that later sold to HP, provides a specific example of the program's use. In late 2023, San Francisco police charged Humane over $27,000 for officers stationed outside its buildings for approximately three months.
The company had sought a police presence from 10:00 GMT to 18:00 GMT on weekdays to "patrol buildings, keep employees and buildings safe," according to its request. An internal police advisory to officers detailed responsibilities: "Your responsibilities are the safe passage for employees in the area and safeguarding the buildings belonging to Humane." It explicitly instructed officers to "rove from one building to the other from time to time to create a visual presence in the area." This level of detail shows the specific nature of these private contracts. Elon Musk’s X, while relocating its primary offices, was also a brief client in early 2023.
When still known as Twitter, the company paid $20,711.48 for police protection during the first quarter of that year. Even a company whose owner publicly criticized city safety conditions utilized the program. Nationally, an estimated 80% of police departments allow officers to work secondary jobs, either informally or through formal policies similar to San Francisco’s.
This data comes from a survey conducted over a decade ago by Seth Stoughton, faculty director of the University of South Carolina’s Excellence in Policing & Public Safety Program. Some cities express concerns about potential conflicts of interest and liability risks arising from such arrangements. However, agencies that permit them often cite benefits like improved community relations and additional income for officers, Stoughton's survey found.
The practice is widespread. Here is what they are not telling you: the lines between public duty and private contract are blurring. In San Francisco, the moonlighting program has drawn recent criticism from city officials.
They accuse officers of potentially abusing sick leave and neglecting primary duties in favor of easier, overtime-eligible security shifts. Other concerns include officer burnout from extra patrols and geographic disparities in where these gigs occur. Former Assistant Police Chief David Lazar, however, downplayed fears of abuse last year, calling the program "a big win" for increasing officer visibility without taxpayer cost.
SFPD statistics indicate violent crime rates have fallen over the past two years and continue to decline in 2026. This is a complex issue with multiple perspectives. Despite the significant expenditures by companies, there is no clear evidence that hiring public police officers yields better outcomes than using private security. "There's no research on whether hiring off-duty officers as opposed to security guards is better or more effective for private businesses," Stoughton stated.
However, the consistent use by repeat customers like Airbnb and Salesforce, who have been clients since at least 2019, suggests they perceive tangible value. Other notable clients from 2019 included Autodesk, Coinbase, Fitbit, Oracle, Turo, Uber, and Y Combinator. Coinbase confirmed it takes appropriate security measures.
Turo has no records of such an arrangement. Why It Matters: The increasing reliance of private tech firms on publicly funded police forces for security raises fundamental questions about resource allocation and equity. Every dollar spent by a tech company on off-duty officers is a dollar that could potentially be used for other public safety initiatives or private security solutions.
It also creates a two-tiered security system, where those with financial means can effectively command a greater police presence. This impacts the perception of public safety for all residents, not just those employed by the companies. Key Takeaways: - Major tech companies, including Salesforce and Airbnb, pay hundreds of thousands annually for off-duty San Francisco police officers. - The 10B program allows private entities to contract SFPD for security, with officers paid city rates plus overtime. - Critics raise concerns about potential sick leave abuse, officer burnout, and the blurring of public duty with private interests. - Despite significant spending, no clear evidence suggests public police are more effective than private security for these roles.
Looking ahead, the debate over San Francisco's 10B program will likely intensify as city officials weigh the benefits of officer visibility and supplemental income against concerns about resource equity and potential abuses. Future city budget discussions or policy reviews could bring changes to how these private contracts are managed, or even whether they continue in their current form. Companies will continue to assess their security needs, but the public conversation about who polices whom, and at what cost, is far from over.
Watch for legislative proposals in the coming year.
Key Takeaways
— - Major tech companies, including Salesforce and Airbnb, pay hundreds of thousands annually for off-duty San Francisco police officers.
— - The 10B program allows private entities to contract SFPD for security, with officers paid city rates plus overtime.
— - Critics raise concerns about potential sick leave abuse, officer burnout, and the blurring of public duty with private interests.
— - Despite significant spending, no clear evidence suggests public police are more effective than private security for these roles.
Source: Wired
