SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- San Francisco's incoming mayor, Daniel Lurie, announced he created a new public safety czar position, dubbed "Chief of Public Safety," on Thursday. The safety czar's "primary focus" will be zeroed-in on "neighborhood safety, street behavior, emergency preparedness and response," Lurie's spokesperson wrote. The Chief of Public Safety will coordinate several city departments. Lurie is just days away from taking over San Francisco's top political post as incumbent Mayor London Breed makes her exit. Daniel Lurie (left), London Breed, and Aaron Peskin attended a mayoral debate at the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco on June 12, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Lurie is vowing to restructure the mayor's office to enhance effectiveness and accountability. A former San Francisco Police Department commander, Paul Yep, was picked for the new safety chief position, Lurie said. "I’m proud to announce Paul Yep as the first ever Chief of Public Safety. Paul has dedicated his career to keeping San Franciscans safe and there is no one better for this critical job. Together, we will support our law enforcement and ensure that every resident, worker, and visitor is safe in our city," Lurie said. Yep said, "I look forward to leveraging my experience to help the mayor-elect’s team execute his vision for building stronger and safer communities across our city." Yep will coordinate with the following departments: SFPD, adult and juvenile probation, police accountability, emergency management, fire, sheriff inspector general, victim and witness rights. He will also serve as the administration’s point of contact with the San Francisco Sheriff, District Attorney, and the Public Defender. "Paul Yep is a thoughtful servant leader who is deeply passionate about enhancing safety for every San Franciscan," said Sheriff Paul Miyamoto. "I have known Paul personally for over 35 years since before our law enforcement careers. My office looks forward to working closely with Paul and the Mayor-elect to make San Francisco the safest big city in the nation." Paul Yep Thirty-three homicides unfolded in San Francisco in 2024, a 34% percent drop compared to 2023. Last week, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott proclaimed that SF is already "one of the safest big cities in the country." Scott said, "The SFPD has made tremendous progress in reducing violent crime. I also want to offer my condolences to the families of victims this year. Our officers are working hard to bring you justice as they continue to work diligently to continue this downward trend in violence." San Francisco had a violent start to 2025 when a shooting broke out in the Bernal Heights neighborhood that left a 24-year-old man dead Thursday morning. According to a family member at the scene, the man killed himself after shooting his toddler and the toddler's mother. SFPD has not confirmed those details. Two hours later, at 10 a.m., a shooting happened at 833 Bryant Street in the SoMa neighborhood, firefighters said. Two victims were treated for gunshot wounds and officers arrested a woman. On Wednesday, just 25 minutes into the new year, a man was shot to death at a business on South Van Ness Avenue, police said. The suspected gunman, 29-year-old Jose Rivera Flores, was booked into jail on suspicion of homicide. Yep served as an SFPD commander until his retirement in July of 2023. He was previously a commanding officer for the Central, Northern, and Richmond police stations. Yep also worked in specialized assignments including domestic violence, human trafficking, and community relations. He is an alumni of Lowell High School and San Francisco State University.