SAN FRANCISCO - Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is drawing sharp criticism after suggesting that President Donald Trump should send the National Guard to San Francisco to address the city's police shortage.

His remarks have sparked a wave of backlash from Bay Area officials and residents, days ahead of the company’s major annual conference, Dreamforce.

In a phone interview with The New York Times from his private jet, Benioff said: "We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it."

Benioff said Salesforce is funding hundreds of off-duty law enforcement officers to help patrol the convention area.

Dreamforce is expected to bring 45,000 attendees to downtown San Francisco.

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Currently, the San Francisco Police Department has about 1,500 officers. Benio

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