Greg Suhr, New Police Chief, Cuts Top Cops' Salaries

Chief Greg Suhr needs no assistants. Deputies, however...

​Newly minted Police Chief Greg Suhr comes with the reputation of being a cop's cop, and his first actions atop the SFPD fit the bill. He's pledged to keep his doors open and also voluntarily gave back a hefty cost-of-living increase (though he'll still take home upward of $290,000).

But Suhr isn't slicing just his own pay -- he also cut the salaries of his top brass. On Saturday, he did away with the "assistant chief" position, reclassifying it as "deputy chief." This is not a mere matter of semantics -- it figures to save some $60,000 or more yearly.

While an assistant chief drew $269,776, a deputy chief earns between $235,664 and $249,782.

Deputy Chiefs Denise Schmitt, Thomas Shawyer, and Jeff Godown -- the last of whom was acting chief after George Gascón was appointed DA -- have all had their paychecks lightened.

Police officials say this was not meant to be a reprimand or reflection on anyone's performance, but is simply a cost-saving measure.

It's also more than a little symbolic -- inasmuch as tens of thousands of dollars can be symbolic.

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