William Monroe Palmer, the president of the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department Oversight Board, is facing serious allegations that he provided drugs to a vulnerable 26-year-old woman and engaged in sexual activity with her over five days. The accusations come amid existing calls for his removal from city positions due to prior controversies, including antisemitic online statements and accusations of abuse from four women.
The woman, who has a history of psychiatric holds, told the San Francisco Chronicle that she encountered Palmer in a public plaza on June 30 after leaving her family home following a dispute. According to her account, Palmer, driving a red BMW convertible, invited her into his car and offered her drugs, including meth and fentanyl. She stated that they then went to his apartment, where she alleges she smoked drugs and had sex with him for the next five days.
During this period, the woman reported being resuscitated from an overdose. She told the Chronicle that the drug use impaired her judgment, making her unsure about her consent to sexual activity, though she stated she never explicitly told Palmer "no." Her mother had reported her missing on July 3. Four days later, an unidentified man informed her mother of the daughter's location.
Police located the woman and Palmer together and took both into custody. Palmer was arrested, and the woman was placed on a mental health hold. Palmer was subsequently released. He reportedly attempted to visit the woman at San Francisco General Hospital, claiming his actions were a "trauma-informed intervention," but was denied entry. He also contacted the district attorney’s office expressing concern over the police's handling of the situation.
Palmer has claimed he acted as a "life coach" for the woman, stating he removed her from a "lifestyle she was in" and took her to acupuncture sessions. He refused to confirm or deny whether he had sex or used drugs with her.
These latest allegations compound previous controversies surrounding Palmer. He was appointed to the Sheriff’s Oversight Board in 2021. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has called Palmer's behavior "unacceptable" and urged for his removal. Supervisor Stephen Sherrill has requested an investigation into misconduct and called for the removal process to begin promptly, stating Palmer is "unfit to serve."
Despite the mounting pressure, Palmer has stated his intention to serve his term until March 1, 2027, asserting that "allegations don’t remove people from the board."