What was the subject of a 1993 ballot initiative in San Francisco?

Robert J. ("Bob") Geary is a former officer in the San Francisco Police Department who gained notoriety as the subject of a ballot initiative to allow his ventriloquist's dummy, 'Brendan O'Smarty', to join him on foot patrol.

In 1991 Geary was assigned to a community policing position in North Beach. The program encouraged officers to be 'highly visible', using 'creative and ingenious methods' to earn the trust of local civilians.

Geary bought an expensive dummy along with an audiotape program to teach himself ventriloquism. He chose the name 'Brendan O'Smarty' as a play on 'dummy' and to give the doll dignity.

He took 'Brendan' to entertain children while he was on patrol, dressing it in a police uniform with badge number 1/2 and a water pistol. Despite carrying the dummy, Geary was able to function as an officer, chasing and tackling at least one suspect with dummy in hand.

In 1993 Geary formed the 'Committee to Save Puppet Officer Brendan O'Smarty,' which collected almost 10,000 signatures in a self-financed campaign to bring the matter to a local referendum. The measure was designated and certified for the general election in November 1993.

Despite opposition from the police chief, who considered the referendum an embarrassment, the measure passed by a narrow 51% to 49% margin.

Geary continued to use the puppet throughout the 1990s and became a celebrity at ventriloquist conventions nationwide, also appearing in the 2000 documentary, 'Dummies!'