The San Francisco Police Department is the city police department of the City and County of San Francisco and for San Francisco International Airport in unincorporated San Mateo County. The department’s motto is the same as that of the city and county: Oro en paz, fierro en guerra, Spanish for Gold in peace, iron in war.
The SFPD began operations on August 13, 1849, during the Gold Rush under the command of Captain Malachi Fallon. At the time, Chief Fallon had a force of one deputy captain, three sergeants and 30 officers