San Francisco Tech Companies Pay Big for Police Protection

["Elon Musk recently called violent crime in San Francisco 'horrific' and relocated the offices of his social media business X outside the city, citing safety and business concerns. Other tech companies in the area have taken a different approach, partnering directly with the police department to boost security. Airbnb and Salesforce are among the businesses that have contracted with the San Francisco Police Department to provide uniformed, armed officers to protect their offices and events.", "According to public records, Airbnb spent approximately $428,443 on police protection in 2024, while Salesforce shelled out around $727,907 through a security vendor.

Salesforce hired police to protect its offices in the city's tallest structure, Salesforce Tower, as well as a nearby building in the downtown area. The company also spent nearly $41,000 on police presence at its TrailblazerDX 2024 conference at the city's convention center. These payment amounts have not been previously reported.", "The security practices of San Francisco's tech companies have come under scrutiny in recent weeks following a disturbing incident involving OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

A man allegedly threw a molotov cocktail at Altman's home and attempted to break into OpenAI's headquarters. Authorities claim the suspect wrote a document criticizing AI technologies and outlined a goal to kill Altman, referencing other AI executives. He faces state and federal prosecution but has not entered formal pleas yet.", "Not all tech companies have participated in the police department's contracting program, known as 10B.

OpenAI and Anthropic, two leading generative AI model developers based in San Francisco, have not been regular customers, according to police spokesperson Allison Maxie. Salesforce, Anthropic, and Airbnb declined to comment on their security arrangements, while OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.", 'The 10B program allows companies to pay for police officers at the same hourly rates as the city, including overtime. In early 2024, the rate for a standard officer was $135 an hour during the day, while a lieutenant could cost up to nearly $190 at night.

The program is often used by organizations hosting events and conferences, as well as sports teams needing additional security. The San Francisco Giants baseball team was the largest spender in 2024, with a bill approaching $1.9 million.']