A Proven Strategy to Reduce Waste, Improve Efficiency, and Protect Public Funds
By Ken Lomba, President – San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
San Francisco faces growing budget challenges, rising liability costs, and a public demand for greater transparency in how taxpayer dollars are used. In response, we must look beyond traditional bureaucratic models and adopt smarter, more accountable strategies. One proven approach used successfully in the private sector—but missing in most public agencies—is Asset Protection (AP).
Asset Protection is not just about tracking equipment—it’s about preserving resources, identifying inefficiencies, preventing loss, and protecting the integrity of operations. It’s time San Francisco government departments implement these principles citywide to eliminate waste, cut costs, and restore public trust.
From Loss Prevention to Law Enforcement Leadership
Before I became a law enforcement officer and President of the San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, I spent five years working in loss prevention and asset protection in the private sector. I advanced from Loss Prevention Agent to Detective, and ultimately to Manager, overseeing internal theft investigations, employee accountability, and operational loss control.
During that time, I developed a reputation as a high producer, averaging one arrest per day. I specialized in identifying internal theft, orchestrating surveillance operations, and conducting successful recovery missions. One of the most significant cases involved a deep internal investigation in Santa Rosa that led to a two-car surveillance tail of an employee with stolen merchandise to their residence. There, we discovered over $25,000 in stolen merchandise, making it one of the largest internal theft recoveries in the region.
Later, as a law enforcement officer working both in-custody and patrol, I continued to be a top performer in arrest activity, focused on protecting the public and holding individuals accountable. That same drive for results and integrity now fuels my work as DSA President—fighting for reform and advocating for smarter operations that benefit both employees and taxpayers.
What Is Asset Protection in Government?
Asset Protection in a public agency means:
- Tracking high-value items: From IT equipment to tools, radios, vehicles, medical supplies, and furniture.
- Preventing internal misuse: Including theft, misallocation of resources, and time fraud.
- Reviewing efficiency: Ensuring departments and staff are aligned with actual workload demands.
- Reducing liability: Proactively addressing unsafe practices that lead to injuries and expensive workers’ comp claims.
- Auditing operations: Identifying areas of redundancy, outdated workflows, and unnecessary spending.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
When asset protection is ignored, the losses compound:
- Internal theft goes unnoticed without audits and inventory systems.
- Equipment mismanagement leads to duplicate purchases and downtime.
- Inefficient staffing and idle units drain payroll without productivity.
- Lack of accountability breeds a culture of complacency.
- Injury claims and lawsuits rise due to poor risk prevention.
These are not just operational issues—they are budget killers. Time is money, and inefficiency is theft in slow motion.
A Citywide Opportunity
San Francisco departments—from Public Health to Public Works, from Human Services to Fleet Management—stand to benefit from a structured, professional asset protection framework. Here’s what that could look like:
✅ Establish Internal Asset Protection Units
Tasked with inventory control, personnel efficiency reviews, and operational risk assessments.
✅ Implement Technology-Driven Audits
Use barcode/RFID systems to track city assets, prevent misuse, and reduce waste.
✅ Review Workload and Productivity
Compare staffing levels with deliverables. Address underutilized roles and optimize performance.
✅ Prevent Losses Before They Happen
Analyze injury reports, overtime logs, and procurement trends to identify vulnerabilities and stop losses before they spiral.
✅ Involve Labor Unions
To ensure transparency, fairness, and cooperation, these systems should be implemented in partnership with labor organizations, not as punitive oversight but as a shared commitment to operational integrity.
Time for a Smarter Government
The Department of Government Efficiency has shown just how much loss exists in city operations. But instead of reacting to scandals, we should be proactive. By bringing Asset Protection into our culture—just as the private sector has done for decades—San Francisco can lead the way in public sector innovation and accountability.
This is about safeguarding public resources and implementing systems that drive efficiency, accountability, and trust. It’s about restoring taxpayer confidence and equipping public employees with the structure, support, and tools they need to perform at their best.
Let’s make Asset Protection a core part of San Francisco’s government strategy—because every dollar saved is a dollar we can reinvest into public safety, infrastructure, housing, and services.