Police Chief George Gascón made headlines in October, when he was thrown into a controversy around immigrant youth suspects — a battle he might not have otherwise taken up. But now, four months into his term, he’s beginning to take steps that reflect his priorities for the office. Just weeks after he was hired in August, Gascón sided with Mayor Gavin Newsom in refusing to shelter undocumented immigrant youths accused but not yet convicted of a crime. Newsom’s decision — to ignore a veto-proof vote by the Board of Supervisors mandating that the youths not be turned over to federal authorities — was the most controversial move that Gascón has made in the four months that he has been chief. He did so even though he had supported a so-called sanctuary-city policy when he was police chief in Mesa, Ariz. In the past week, however, Gascón seems to have begun following his own initiative.