CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce conducted their “Annual City Beat Survey” and the results posted a 76% favorable rating for the San Francisco Police Department. 16% of the people surveyed had an unfavorable rating for the SFPD in 2013. The SFPD is currently over 300 officers short. In 2012 the department responded to over 1.3 million calls for service - of those calls 648,000 were emergency calls. The SFPD also made 28,213. There were 838 guns taken off the streets, which equates to nearly one gun for every two officers assigned to the patrol bureau.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
On Sat, March 23, Central Station Officers, led by the twin towers of Officers Mike and Tom Costello, played a group of all-star high school basketball players from the Chinatown neighborhood. It was Central Station old guys vs. a quick young team from the Betty Ann Ong Rec Center. The players from the rec center started out the basketball game with a commanding lead as they were much faster, quicker and younger. The old Central Guys came back at halftime.

The Central Station Team was much taller and they decided to change their game strategy to slow the pace of the game down. At the end, the Central Team won with experience, wisdom and height.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

October was our busiest month of the year. In October we managed police services for Fleet Week, Blue Angels, America’s Cup Races, Italian Heritage Parade, Occupy protests, Oracle World, numerous Halloween celebrations in the district, and the World Series celebration – including the aftermath. President Obama also visited in October. November is upon us and it’s already beginning to look a lot like Christmas. There will be many Tree Lighting Celebrations in the Central District. The buildings of The Embarcadero Center will be lit on Friday, November 16th. Pier 39 will have its Tree Lighting on Sunday November 18, 2012 at 6pm. The 48th Annual Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Friday November 23, 2012 at 5:30pm Ghirardelli Square Main Plaza, and the Macy’s Union Square Tree Lighting Ceremony will kick off also on Friday November 23, at 6pm.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Be Aware of the Public Utility Worker Scam
This past weekend was a very busy and productive weekend for Central Station Officers. There were four arrests for cell phone robberies. Please leave your smart phones out of sight when not in use—especially when riding on Muni. Thieves like to snatch the phone from a victim’s hand when the victim is distracted, this usually happens when the bus is stopped at a bus zone. The victim is usually seated, looking at his/her phone not paying attention to their surroundings and near the exit door. The suspect quickly snatches the phone and exits through the rear bus door. By the time the victim realizes what has occurred, the bad guy is long gone. In addition to the robbery arrests we also had eight arrests for burglaries in the Nob Hill and Union Square Area. Our plainclothes units have been targeting the Nob Hill and Union Square Area recently.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
I would like to thank everyone for attending our recent Police Commission on August 29, 2012 at Gordon J Lau Elementary School. Your participation was greatly appreciated. I was pleased with our community member comments because that allowed me to better understand the community’s concerns. These meetings are an important part of our community approach to law enforcement. I hope we can continue a transparent communication because your cooperation is necessary to combat violence and problems in our neighborhood. If you missed the police commission meeting you can view it on SFGov.TV on the internet. Here is the link. http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=21

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Central Station Officers had a very busy and productive week. On the 4th of July, Central Station personnel were augmented by officers around the city to help facilitate crowd management and control in the Fisherman’s Wharf and Aquatic Park areas. Hundreds of thousands were treated to a spectacular fireworks show that dazzled locals and visitors from around the world. The fireworks were launched from barges at the foot of Muni Pier and north of Pier 39.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Central Station facilitated the arrival, scheduled luncheon and the departure of the South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak this week. President Lee Myung-Bak along with his personel security and advisors arrived on Monday 6/25/12 and departed on Tuesday 6/26/12. The officers of Central Station, Special Investigations Division and the U.S. Secret Service assisted the South Korean President as he visited our great city.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
I am truly honored and privileged to be able to serve as the Commanding Officer of Central Station. Central Station and the Central District is a very special place for me. I started my career at Central Station in 1982. This was my training station and I spent the first four months of my career here. This is my fourth tour of duty in the Central District. I had the privilege to work here as a patrolman, sergeant, and inspector. I was born in the Central District (Chinese Hospital in Chinatown) some 51 years ago and grew up in North Beach. I spent my childhood years at the Salesian Boys Club on Filbert and Powell Streets and North Beach Playground (Joe DiMaggio Playground).

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
I want to take this opportunity to say farewell to all of you. June 17th, I conclude a thirty five year career with the San Francisco Police Department. It has been a privilege and an honor to stand beside the outstanding men and women of the SFPD during my career. Additionally, the residents, merchants and business owners in the Central Police District are symbolic of the other communities with their participation and contributions toward making this City a safer and more secure place to live, work and play.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
North Beach festival is next weekend. I anticipate thousands of participants for this event. Great food and entertainment will be provided by the event and local businesses. Parking and traffic can be challenging so plan accordingly. As usual I encourage party-goers to take public transportation.

58th Annual North Beach Festival
Saturday & Sunday, June 16 and 17, 2012
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM ~ FREE
North Beach District, San Francisco, CA

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
WHAT: FREE Readiness Training with NERT
WHEN: Sunday, July 8, 2012
WHERE: SFFD Division of Training, 2310 Folsom Street at 19th Street (enter on 19th Street). Street parking only. Public transit advised.
TIMES: 10 a.m., 1 p.m., or 3:30 p.m.
Kids Readiness Activities throughout the day! Bouncy House & Light Refreshments

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sunday May 27th, 2012
The celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge will be this Memorial Day Weekend. Please plan your travel accordingly and expect delays. Presidio will be closing gates and limiting access to local traffic at 25th Ave and 14th Ave gates only (Marina, Lombard, Presidio and Arguello gates closed at 9am). Check with MTA for Muni re-routes. Additional officers and DPT will be strategically deployed to assist with crowd control. Golden Gate Bridge will be closed from 9PM-10PM. Lights on bridge towers will be turned off at 9:20PM. Fireworks commence at 9:30PM and end at 9:48PM.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
The Broadway Corridor is still a priority concern. I will continually staff Broadway accordingly with uniformed foot patrol, vehicle patrol, plainclothes officers and various specialized units. Broadway business owners and management have also been working diligently on policing their respective businesses. Some of the businesses have installed security cameras and new computer systems that track each patron upon entry into these establishments. This will enable the businesses to identify problem persons and refuse entry to these persons in the future.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Dear Citizens of the Central District,
Sunday, April 29th at approximately 2:15 AM, a shooting occurred on the 1000 block of Montgomery Street. Witness reports a confrontation took place between a group of young males, wearing black “hoodie” sweatshirts, and jeans near the intersection of Broadway and Montgomery. Police officers were in the immediate vicinity (within one block) at the time of the shooting and detained several individuals who were attempting to flee from the area. At this time, no arrests have been made. The matter is under investigation and physical evidence recovered at the scene will aid in the investigation.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
The days are now longer and summer is approaching. There is a mass overhaul going on the Embarcadero as the Port is beautifying our waterfront. I anticipate a rise in thefts from parked vehicles, especially in the financial, Embarcadero and wharf areas. This is a friendly reminder to stow away items (ie…Laptops, suitcases, important documents, tools and construction equipment) out of sight. This should be done prior to your arrival to your parking area, thieves are watching. I have and will continue to battle this problem with aggressive patrolling by our marked police vehicle’s, plain clothes officers and additional foot beat officers in these areas.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
I am inviting everyone who is interested in learning about Neighborhood courts to join me and welcome San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon as he presents his new model for conflict resolution.

Neighborhood Courts give residents a chance to resolve nonviolent crimes in their neighborhood. Residents serve as volunteer adjudicators and hear cases in a neighborhood setting, using restorative justice to repair the harm caused by the crimes. Neighborhood Courts is a partnership between the District Attorney’s Office, California Community Dispute Services, and Pre-trial Diversion.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
District Attorney George Gascon, Supervisor David Chiu and Captain Tacchini would cordially like to invite you to learn about Neighborhood courts.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
The weather is changing and the rainy season is among us. I highly encourage drivers to drive a little slower. We are a tourist destination and many tourists do not know their way around our beautiful city. When the streets get wet the cable car/ street car tracks become extremely slick.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
First Sunday Streets of 2012: March 11th
Sunday, March 11, Sunday Streets makes its 2012 debut along the Embarcadero 11am-4pm, and you are invited to be a part of it! Not only can you participate, you can also volunteer. When you volunteer a shift for Sunday Streets, you get to help make Sunday Streets possible, you also get a “Sunday Streets” t-shirt, complimentary lunch, invitations to special volunteer parties, and the great feeling that you helped make Sunday Streets possible! Be part of the Sunday Streets volunteer team by signing up today at sundaystreetssf.com/volunteer.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
On Thursday February 16, 2012, The Wilderness program provided a day hike to Angel Island State Park. Officers Rivera and Kirwan escorted four parents, one teacher and 27 students from Gordon J. Lau on an educational tour of the island.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
If anyone has driven through the Central District these last couple of days, you may have noticed an increase in traffic. This last Saturday, we celebrated with the Chinese New Year Parade. Because this parade is one of the largest parades in the world, we were forced to close down a few streets.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message


A committee has been formed by Troy Sanders of SAFE, several Neighborhood Watch Block Captains, a representative from Recology and a member of the SFPD. They meet periodically to discuss current trends, ways to abate curbside recycling theft, and what Recology and SFPD are doing about the thefts.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
You may already know that San Francisco S.A.F.E. helps with safety tips, neighborhood watch and crime map statistics, but did you know they also perform Home Security Assessments.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
All hands on deck! This past week has been a busy one for the members of Central Station. The recent visit by Vice President Biden required numerous officers detailed from various districts in the city. All went well and the Vice President was able to attend all functions without any problems.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
I have seen on the news as well as heard from others criticism about the way the San Francisco Police handled the Telegraph Hill burglar. I would like to have the opportunity to shed some light on the matter and explain the reasons for our decisions. I invite you to attend our next community meeting where I will discuss the issue. Below is the listed date, time and location of the meeting. I hope to see you there.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Happy New Year and Best Wishes to all in 2012 for good health, prosperity and happiness.

A recent burglary in the Central District has been highlighted by the media due to the unusual escape route taken by the suspect. The suspected burglar entered an apartment building, gained access to an apartment and absconded with stolen goods. A witness to the burglary was able to point out the suspect to responding police officers. The suspect fled through the neighborhood, ultimately choosing a Cliffside as his escape route. He was observed by the officers as he concealed himself in deep foliage to avoid detection. A prolonged effort was made to assure the suspect was not in distress and in need of evacuation, while attempting to devise a means for officers to retrieve him from his location. Due to the dangerous terrain and the safety consequences it presented to police officers as well as the suspect, the decision was made to monitor the suspect’s location from a safe distance. After twenty four hours it was decided the resources and personnel at the Cliffside scene needed to be placed back into service, as there was no indication how long the situation could go on. Therefore, the safety of the suspect and of potential arresting officers was deemed to be the priority in abandoning a dangerous attempt to take custody of the property thief.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
This New Years Eve, the city has planned one event and that will be the fireworks show to welcome 2012. The fireworks will be set off from a barge in the bay off of Mission Street at The Embarcadero. The display will begin at midnight and last approximately fifteen minutes. Large crowds are expected, so I encourage everyone to take public transportation to cut down on traffic congestion. At this time, there are no planned street closures.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Pickpockets have been active along the 30 Stockton line as well as other busy MUNI lines. During the holiday season, pickpockets tend to be on the rise. Cell phones and laptops have been the targets of thievery as well.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Great Police Work! Officers from Central Station arrested two prolific burglars last week who have been plaguing the district. The burglars targeted residences and businesses and victimized several persons. I am optimistic that the capture of these two will be cause for a reduction in the number of burglaries that have been recently reported. The suspects were identified after good old fashion police work was performed and the evidence identifying the suspects resulted in their quick and uneventful capture along with the recovery of some items as evidence and more importantly, will be returned to the owners. I am continuously impressed with and very proud of the work being done by the Officers of Central Station, with all the demands they are faced with each day. I always welcome your comments about the service you have received, whether positive or negative, as I feel it helps us all learn what we are doing right and what we need to improve upon.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Now that the holiday season is almost upon us, there will be more people shopping and going out for dinners and parties. I feel this is a good time to be reminded of personal safety. This information is important to review in order to not stay complacent when doing everyday tasks.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Veteran’s Day, formerly Armistice Day, is a very important reminder to all of us of how lucky we are to live in communities that are safe and peaceful. Dedicating one day to thanking the millions of men and women of the military who served to protect our freedom and safety somehow doesn’t seem to be enough. I encourage all to acknowledge and thank the men and women of our armed services for their sacrifices on our behalf. It is easy to ignore and to take for granted the liberties, privileges and protections we have, but we should never forget why we are so fortunate and to whom we owe a debt of gratitude.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
The following is an email sent from Entertainment Commissioner Glendon Hyde regarding Ad Hoc meetings addressing the concerns on Broadway:

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
In the coming weeks, Entertainment Commissioner Glendon Hyde will hold a neighborhood outreach at Tel-Hi to address the concerns of the Broadway nightclubs. A date and time has not been determined, but I will pass on the information to you as soon as I receive it.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
On Wednesday, October 5, Fleet Week in San Francisco began and will continue until the ships leave on Tuesday October 11th. This is the 30th annual San Francisco Fleet Week and the 100th Anniversary of Navy Aviation. This will be the largest Fleet Week in the country with 14 ships participating in the Parade of Ships bringing thousands of military personnel from the United States Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and Canadian Navy. There are several events planned throughout the city. Below is a list of some of the events throughout the Central Police District. Enjoy the festivities and be safe.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message

Walk to School Day
A successful Walk to School program integrates physical activity, traffic relief, environmental awareness, and safety. It is an opportunity to work closely with your school, your community, and your local government to create a healthy lifestyle for children and a safer, cleaner environment for everyone. Starting a Walk to School program at your school can build momentum for establishing a Safe Routes to School program in your community. Join with other schools across California and around the world to celebrate the benefits of walking to school!

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

CAPTAIN'S MESSAGE
Bad News/ Good News
What do laptop computers, cell phones, GPS devices, luggage, leather coats, gym bags, and shopping bags have in common? These are all items that were lying on the seats of parked and unattended vehicles when the cars were broken into this past week. Despite the constant reminders not to leave any valuables, visible in your car when you park it, people continue to do so.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message

No one ever plans on being a victim of a crime, but unfortunately it happens every day. By taking into practice small steps of prevention, we can avoid several of the commons crimes that happen all to frequently.

--Don’t leave any personal or valuable items inside your vehicle.
--Lock all valuables inside the trunk before arriving at your destination.
--Doors should be locked and windows up.
--Removable stereo systems should never be left in a vehicle.
--GPS mapping devises – dash or window mounted – should never be left in a vehicle.
--Never think your valuables left in view are safe when parked in a public parking garage.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message

The approaching tenth anniversary of the September 11th attack on our country should be a sobering reminder to us all to remain vigilant in our personal security practices. I was recently reminded by Micki Jones, a Community Police Advisory Board member of the Central Police District that everyone needs to pay special attention to persons representing themselves as utility or parcel delivery persons. Criminals often portray themselves as a PG&E, Phone Company, Cable, UPS, FedEx or other type of employee, so as to gain entry into your home or business. You should always ask for identification and not rely upon the uniform the person is wearing. If you live in a multi-unit building, do not just allow entry by persons who ring your doorbell, but take the time to verify they are who they are representing themselves to be. Should you have any question or feel suspicious, contact the company they say they are working for and confirm what they have told you.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

CAPTAIN'S MESSAGE

Cell Phone Safety:
I am amazed at the number of people I see each day walking around the City streets with a cell phone pressed to their ear, while they are oblivious to what is occurring around them. Their focus on the on-going conversation is certainly jeopardizing their safety and well-being. The other day, there were five robberies in the Central Police District where suspects approached the victims from the rear or side and snatched the cell phone from their grasp. While that sounds like a lot in one day, it is, but compared to the hundreds and thousands of people walking around with a phone to their ear, it is really a very small percentage of a chance you will become a victim of this crime. But even that small percentage can be reduced and should be through common sense behaviors.

Continuing its partnerships with government and neighborhood organizations to make San Francisco a better place to learn, work and live, the Academy of Art University will pair with the San Francisco Police Department in a National Night Out Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011 at 5:00pm. The event will center on the university’s Urban Knights Café, 655-1/2 Sutter Street.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Last week I lamented about the poor attendance at the monthly Central Station Community meeting. Well it paid off, as attendance skyrocketed to twice the usual number of attendees. I am encouraged by the contributions made at the meetings where we can learn of issues related to crime, social disorder, traffic, entertainment, and general nuisances. The issues ranged from drunkards in Washington Square, noise from commercial establishments in the late night hours, homeless related problems, and crimes such as burglaries, auto break-ins and a stalking incident. I know there is more out there and hope to learn what we, the SFPD can do to help!

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
The next Central Station community meeting will be July 20th at 5:30 PM at 660 Lombard Street – Tel Hi Center. Past meetings have had very few attendees which is indicative of one of two things; 1. Lack of interest or 2. Lack of issues. I am hopeful the reason is # 2. There are several issues presently being addressed by officers of Central Station and they include but are not limited to:

Crime Prevention & Reduction - officers are focusing on street level crimes such as robberies, serious assaults, and the breaking into of vehicles. The officers have been very successful in the last couple of weeks, arresting several suspects for armed street robberies and vehicle break ins.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Great Arrest! Officers and investigators from Central Station arrested the suspect recovered the stolen Picasso sketch which was taken from a gallery at Geary and Powell. The work done by the officers was excellent from the time they first responded to the call of the theft, up until the suspect was placed under arrest approximately thirty six hours later. Officer Mary Godfrey was the first officer on the scene and gathered essential information and quickly disseminated it allowing for the preservation of valuable evidence. Inspector Donna Loftus and Sergeant Richard Jones working with Lieutenant Ed Santos quickly developed information that led them to identify the suspect within a few hours of the theft. The investigators worked to continue to develop more information that would lead them to the suspect’s location before he had a chance to dispose of the stolen sketch. This investigation was success due to the determination, resourcefulness and excellent investigative abilities of the investigators who utilized a variety of investigative measures to stay close to the tracks being left by the suspect.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Independence Day Firework Celebration
Come and celebrate with a spectacular fireworks display. The presentation will be shot off of Pier 39 at 9:30pm. For the holiday weekend, there will be several street closures;

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
In any urban environment it is essential to be acutely aware of what is occurring around you; especially when walking while talking on a cell phone. Tragically, a year or so I ago I viewed a video of a man walking while talking on his phone without being cognizant of his surroundings. He stepped off of the curb to be immediately struck and killed by an approaching vehicle. Pedestrian safety is the responsibility of both pedestrians and vehicle operators. Over the past years, the cause of pedestrian collisions has been evenly shared.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
The old saying; “if it is predictable, it is preventable” never goes out of style, especially with personal safety and crime prevention. One of the more common crimes we are experiencing is the theft of “I-Phones”. Far too frequently, thieves are approaching unsuspecting pedestrians who are talking on their phone and snatching it from them if possible, or use greater levels of force to accomplish the theft. I am not advocating phone abstinence on the street, but rather greater awareness of where you are, who is around you, if you are being watched, or alone on a quiet secluded street. If you see someone who appears to be following or paying more than casual attention to you, act on your instincts and change your course by crossing the street or going inside of a commercial establishment. In cases where you feel your safety is in jeopardy, call 911 and request a police response and provide a detailed description of the persons you suspect of criminal activity.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Stephen Tacchini, newly assigned as the commanding officer of the Central Police District. I am a thirty-four year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department and was previously the Captain of this district from 2002-2005. I am very pleased at the opportunity to return to this part of the City as it was one of my favorite assignments. I look forward to renewing old friendships and relationships with business and community members and establishing new relationships as well.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Acting Captain’s Message
Although we were disappointed to hear about Deputy Chief Cashman leaving Central Station, we are excited to know he is a part of the new command staff. We are now looking forward to the return of Captain Stephen Tacchini as Commanding Officer for Central Station. Captain Tacchini comes from the Narcotics/Vice Unit and is scheduled to reassume his position here on May 31st.

May 18, 2011
Deputy Chief’s Message
On Monday afternoon, I was contacted by Chief of Police Greg Suhr. Chief Suhr offered me a promotion to the position of Deputy Chief of Operations. Operations is responsible for the patrol functions of the ten district police stations and the Investigations Bureau. I have accepted the position which is effective immediately.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
A Message from the SFMTA
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees all surface transportation in the City, including the Municipal Railway (Muni), today reminds Muni customers who use the monthly discounted Senior Pass that they must load next month’s pass on the reloadable Senior Clipper card. As of June, paper Senior passes will no longer be available.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

GOT DRUGS
On April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its community partners will hold another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, operating collection sites around the nation where Americans can turn in their unused, unneeded, expired prescription medications. This service is free and anonymous. Tablets, capsules and all other solid dosage forms will be collected. Intravenous solutions, injectables, and syringes will not be accepted.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Neighborhood Summit
Come one come all to the North Beach Neighborhood Summit, where you will have the opportunity to meet your neighbors and Supervisor David Chiu. In addition, the Summit will include a resource fair where you can learn about organizations and services in your neighborhood. Free lunch and childcare will be provided!

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Wilderness Program
On Thursday March 10, 2011, Officer Mike Rivera of the Wilderness Program and Officer Val Kirwan of Central Station facilitated a day hike to Angel Island State Park. A mix of fourth and fifth grade students from Gordon J. Lau Elementary School, along with one teacher and six parents, braved the elements to explore and learn all about the island.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
2011 SUMMER CADET ACADEMY
The San Francisco Police Activities League (PAL) Law Enforcement Cadet Program is now accepting application for their 2011 Summer Cadet Academy. The academy consists of the following:

Ø 4-week intensive law enforcement training at the SF Police Academy

Ø Up to 50 new cadets will be selected

Ø June 13th – July 8th, M-F, 9am-3pm

Ø Graduates immediately eligible for internships at SFPD stations/bureaus and PAL Cadet activities

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Join the San Francisco Community Police Academy
The Community Police Academy is a 10-week program that meets once a week and is designed to inform and teach interested participants various aspects of municipal policing, including patrol and investigations procedures, vehicle operations, arrest and control techniques, firearm procedures and emergency communications.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Despite a cold, wet, and rainy evening this year’s Chinese New Year’s parade was once again a success. I would like to thank the thousands of people who braved the weather and came out and took part in this joyous event and helped San Francisco kick off the year of the rabbit. I am pleased to report that the number of crimes reported were minimal.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
N.E.R.T. TRAINING
Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) is a free training program for individuals, neighborhoods, and community-based organizations in San Francisco. Through this program, individuals will learn the basics of personal preparedness and prevention. The training also includes hands-on-disaster skills that will help individuals respond to a personal emergency as well as act as members of a neighborhood response team.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Each morning, I look over the reports written the previous day and quite often I notice many crimes that can be deterred. A common residential crime is burglary, and more specifically, burglaries occurring in garages. Most criminals are lazy and looking for the easy crime. There are several ways to discourage these criminals so you don’t become a victim.

· Always ensure that your garage is locked when not in use

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
By now, you may have heard there were two homicides on Jefferson Street along the Fisherman’s Wharf area. I want to assure you that this was an isolated incident and the police have a suspect in custody. I also want to point out the outstanding police work by the officer who responded to the call.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message

Youth Services Unit: Wilderness Program
Since 1981 the SFPD Wilderness Adventure Youth Program has provided challenging and cooperative outdoor adventures such as rope courses, backpacking and river rafting for over 30,000, at risk and low-income boys and girls ages 9 through 18. These adventures are designed to develop a mutual understanding and to break down barriers of mistrust between our officers, our youth and our community, as well as to build self-confidence, self-esteem, and group support for our children.

Central Station has received numerous complaints regarding a suspect roaming the area of Darrell Place and Julius' Castle. This suspect has taken items from neighbor's front yards and scattered them in various areas. I have instructed my officers to frequent the area and as a result, earlier this morning, Officer Jay Shastri made contact with the suspect. Officer Shastri spoke with several neighbors who told him that the suspect was seen yelling to himself and acting aggressive.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message: Happy New Year 2011
I hope everyone had a fun and safe New Year’s Eve. As you could imagine, there were numerous private events going on in the district. The officers of Central Station, with the assistance from officers from other divisions, did a tremendous job facilitating the celebration while keeping the streets safe.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
With the year coming to a close, I would like to thank the Officers of Central Station for their fine work and dedication. I would also like to extend my appreciation to all the involved members of the various groups throughout the district who have helped organize the cultural festivals, community meetings and charity events. I have really enjoyed my time here at Central Station and I hope to continue our relationship for some time.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
As we are celebrating the Winter Holidays and New Year with families and friends, we are no doubt also concerned about our own safety and that of our beloved ones in the year to come. Many successful arrests made by the police were because of timely reports made by residents and or neighbors on the block. It is a true fact that there are less crimes or suspicious activities on a block where the neighbors are keeping watchful eyes to prevent criminals from frequenting their street blocks. The best way to do so is to get all these efforts organized and to form a SAFE Neighborhood Watch Group. Reasons to start a group now:

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Kids and Cops
The Kids and Cops program is a reading program where officers come to a specified site within the district to read and take part in activities with the kids. It is intended to promote positive relationships between the youth, their families and law enforcement. Typically, kids think of the police as the people who show up when something bad is happening, so it’s nice to give them the perspective that police officers are just regular people doing their jobs.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
It was a very busy weekend here in the Central Police District. First, I trust everyone had a wonderful holiday and I hope you were able to attend the tree lighting in Union Square. There was a big turnout of spectators and a great deal of planning went into this event. I would like to thank all who helped, especially, Linda Mjellem of the Business Improvement District (BID), Linda Tumath of Macy’s Loss Prevention, Kevin Aiken of the St. Francis Hotel, Sergeant Curtis Smith of DPT and, of course, the officers of the San Francisco Police Department.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Now that the holiday season is upon us, there will be more people shopping and going out for dinners and parties. I feel this is a good time to be reminded of personal safety. This information is important to review in order to not stay complacent when doing everyday tasks.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
When it comes to crime, it is easy to focus on the negative and overlook the positive. With the holiday season quickly approaching, I thought it would be nice to receive some good news. After reviewing the current Central District crime statistics, I have found that several crimes are down considerably.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
It was a long time coming, but the San Francisco Giants have brought home the World Series Championship to San Francisco. Although the Giants clinched in Arlington, Texas, there were numerous areas of celebration. The spirit in North Beach was one of relief and exuberance. There were no arrests made in the Central connected to the celebration and the fans that came out were peaceful and festive.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
Halloween Safety For PARENTS
1. Help your child plan a costume that is flame retardant, easy to walk in, does not limit or block eyesight and is bright and has reflective stickers or tape. Consider face painting instead of a mask.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The San Francisco Police Department’s Domestic Violence Response Unit (DVRU) is a centralized police investigative unit. Captain Sylvia Harper and Lieutenant Molly Pengel are responsible for a staff of fifteen Inspectors who are assigned to the DVRU. The DVRU reviews 350 to 400 incident reports of domestic violence each month.

A domestic violence investigation consists of interviews with the victim, witnesses, and suspects as well as collecting evidence and performing computer background checks on all parties involved. DVRU Inspectors’ goals are to corroborate facts and evidence in an attempt to bring un-biased cases to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

The DVRU investigates all felony arrest cases involving abuse committed against any person, including minors, who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, in a current or former dating relationship, in a current or former engagement, or have a child in common. This includes boyfriend/girlfriend and same sex relationships. The DVRU also investigates elder abuse cases (neglect and physical) and stalking cases. Elder abuse cases and stalking cases will be discussed in future columns.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

It is easy to hear stories about the major crimes happening in the City; just turn on the nightly news and we are bombarded with them. What we don’t hear about are the smaller crimes that happen on a far greater frequency. I am referring to the property crimes, ie, auto-boosting, petty and grand larceny (theft) that occur on a daily basis. There are several simple things one can do to prevent these crimes from happening in the first place.

• Don’t leave any personal or valuable items inside your vehicle.


• Lock all valuables inside the trunk before arriving at your destination.


• Doors should be locked and windows up.


• Removable stereo systems should never be left in a vehicle.


• GPS mapping devises – dash or window mounted – should never be left in a vehicle.


• Never think your valuables left in view are safe when parked in a public parking garage.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Fleet Week
This is an exciting and busy time for the Central Police District. The middle of October brings the annual Fleet Week along with other events. In order to help you navigate the festivities, I thought it may be helpful to know the times, dates and street closures in the area.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

School’s In
Truancy is a gateway to delinquency and requires a city-wide response. It is the policy of the San Francisco Police Department to direct resources toward the successful intervention and ultimate prevention of truancy. To that end, the SFPD has joined with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), Department of Children Youth and their Families (DCYF), and community based organizations in an effort to reduce truancy in San Francisco. A critical component in this effort is the new Truancy Assistance and Resource Center (TARC) located adjacent to CARC at 44 Gough Street #106. TARC opened on April 19, 2010 and operates throughout the school year.

National data indicates that 75% of incarcerated individuals were truant. A San Francisco study showed that between 2003 and 2007, 94% of the homicide victims under the age of 25 had dropped out of school.

The goal of this enforcement effort is to encourage attendance at school, not to criminalize juvenile behavior. For more information please contact TARC at 415-437-1700.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

The Officers at Central Station are some of the finest in the City. They are constantly doing everything they can to make the Central District a safer place to live and work. A recent incident report caught my eye which I believe exemplifies that fine police work.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Got Drugs?
On September 25, 2010, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will coordinate a one-day collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our Nation’s homes. This national "take-back" initiative will provide an opportunity for the public to dispose of pharmaceutical controlled substances by giving them to law enforcement officers for destruction.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER


Captain’s Message

Weekly Police Report
August 31, 2010

Weekly Police Report
August 24, 2010

Weekly Police Report
August 17, 2010

Weekly Police Report
August 10, 2010

Weekly Police Report
August 3, 2010

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Weekly Police Report
July 27, 2010

Weekly Police Report
July 20, 2010

Weekly Police Report
July 14, 2010

Weekly Police Report
July 6, 2010

Weekly Police Report
June 29, 2010

Weekly Police Report
June 22, 2010

WEEKLY POLICE REPORT
June 15, 2010

Weekly Police Report
June 7, 2010

ATTENTION

From: ALERT@CriticalReach.org
Date: 06/04/2010 03:05PM
Subject: CR Alert: Stolen Bicycle

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

CAPTAIN'S MESSAGE
President Obama’s visit to San Francisco last week went off smoothly. Patriot and ANSWER demonstrators arrived in front of the Fairmont Hotel a few hours before the President was scheduled to attend a fund raiser for Senator Barbara Boxer. Both sides exercised their first amendment rights without incident.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

CAPTAIN'S MESSAGE
Metro Division Compstat scheduled for May 26, 2010 has been cancelled.

CENTRAL STATION COMMUNITY MEETING
Our next meeting will be on June 17th, 660 Lombard Street (Tel-Hi Community Center). I have arranged for Inspector Ovanessian of the Economic Crimes Unit to give a presentation on Identity Theft and Common Scams. He is a very engaging presenter. Please mark these dates on your calendar.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

CAPTAIN'S MESSAGE
Personnel changes
There have been some personnel changes at the station that took effect this past Saturday, May 15, 2010. We welcome Officer Brian Oliver and Sergeant Aileen Brady. Officer Brendan O’Connor was transferred to the Chief’s Office staff and Officer Jose Mora was transferred to Bayview Station. We wish them well in their new assignments.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
The recent terrorist incidents in Times Square are a reminder that we must be vigilant at all times. Report any suspicious person(s), package(s) or activity to police immediately. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
After over 32 years of dedicated service, Sergeant John Colla retired this past Friday. Sergeant Colla served as the station’s administrative sergeant, handling special events throughout the district, as well as being the captain’s adjutant. We wish him all the best in his retirement. He will be missed!

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
In light of recent incidents of unprovoked attacks, both in San Francisco and in Oakland, it is vitally important that we all take extra care to provide for our personal safety. Below are the links for more information on public safety. The first link is in English and the second in Chinese. More language translations are also available on the SF SAFE website at www.sfsafe.org.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
After almost 30 years of service, Sergeant Mark Ballard retired this past week. We thank him for his dedication to duty and wish him well in his retirement. Officer Tom Costello was transferred this past weekend to Special Investigation Unit. We welcome Officer Kenneth Weems to Central Station.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
Chief Gascón took time from his very busy schedule for a meet and greet this past Friday, April 9, 2010 at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club (SFIAC), 1630 Stockton Street. The Chief was on hand for approximately one hour, giving an overview of the Department and then being available for questions/concerns. Thanks to all who attended and thank you also to the SFIAC for providing the venue.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
Chief Gascón will appear for a meet and greet on Friday, April 9, 2010 at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton Street from 530 to 615 pm. Please attend and pass the information on to others. This is your opportunity to meet the Chief and discuss community issues and concerns. If you have questions of major concern, it is requested that you send these questions to the office of Community Relations Unit prior to the Chief’s visit at SFPDcommunityrelations@sfgov.org.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
There were a few things I did not have time to add to my weekly newsletter, so this is an addendum to the March 30th newsletter.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
CompStat- Please Read - Important
The location of the Compstat meeting this Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 10 am has been moved back to the Scottish Rite Auditorium at 19th and Sloat. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We will try to get future Compstat meetings in the District.

March 26, 2010— The location of the Compstat meeting coming up this Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 10 am has been moved back to the Scottish Rite Auditorium at 19th and Sloat. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We will try to get future Compstat meetings in the District.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
This past Saturday morning, March 20th, The Friends of Washington Square sponsored a work party to clean up the park, plant new shrubs near the playground, and weed planted areas. More than 20 people showed up, a mix of neighborhood residents and others who hang out at the park, working hard from 9 am until 1pm. The event was organized by Officer Fred Crisp of Central Station and Rec and Park gardener Carol Sionkowski. Local restaurants supplied lunch – Golden Boy Pizza, Tony’s Pizza, and Sotto Mare. Thank you one and all! And special thanks to June Fraps from Friends of Washington Square for sending an email about the “good” work done by all the volunteers.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
Effective Saturday, March 13, 2010, Lieutenant Richard Pate will be transferred to Park Station. We want to thank Lieutenant Pate for his dedication to duty while serving at Central Station and wish him well in his new assignment. Lieutenant Nicole Greely will join our team this Saturday and take the day watch spot held by Lieutenant Pate. As many of you may know, Lt. Greely was previously assigned to Central Station and took a break to head the Department’s Police Law Enforcement Services (PLES) Unit, more commonly known as 10-B. We welcome her back to the district. Also leaving us this Saturday on a long-term loan to the MUNI Task Force are Officers Scott Korte and Benny Chin. We hope you enjoy your new assignments.

I was surprised to read in Police Capt. Anna Brown’s weekly police report of an event that sounded strangely familiar. (Excerpted below.)

On a recent Sunday afternoon, I decided to run downtown and aimed toward MUNI on Market Street. The streets were quiet because it was Sunday. And even more quiet because it was heading into late afternoon. On Davis and Washington I encountered a nicely, but casually, dressed black man who was anguished because “my car has just been towed.”

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
This past Saturday, February 27, 2010, we celebrated in the district with the Chinese New Year Parade, the Year of the Tiger. It was a beautiful display of Chinese customs and heritage. Chief Gascon, many members of the command staff and officers marched in the parade. I would like to thank all the members of the police department who participated and those assigned to work for being part of this annual event. Thank you also to all the members of the Chinese community who helped organize the parade. This event is a great example of partnerships at work.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
The Entertainment Commission administrative hearing date to determine action against Club Suede, will take place on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 5pm, Room 406, City Hall. Please attend if you can. For more information you may contact the Entertainment Commission Secretary, City Hall Room 453 at 415-554-6678.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain's Message
This past Tuesday evening, there was a community meeting at Tel-Hi Neighborhood Center, to discuss the shooting incident that occurred Sunday morning, February 7, 2010 in front of Club Suede, 383 Bay Street. In attendance were members of the police department, Supervisor David Chiu, Executive Director Bob Davis from the Entertainment Commission, Deputy City Attorney Jill Cannon from the City Attorney’s Code Enforcement Unit, and many members of the community. I believe the meeting was well received and served as an informational instrument, as well as an opportunity for the community’s voice to be heard. I want to thank Kevin Carroll from the Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District for helping to coordinate the meeting site and putting the word out about the meeting.

Please come to the meeting at the Entertainment Commission:
WHEN: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
TIME: 5 pm
WHERE: Room 408, City Hall

Come listen to the Executive Director's report on Club Suede. Also, you can voice your concerns during Public Comment.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
Sunday morning, February 7, 2010, at approximately 140 hours, officers responded to shots fired on the 300 block of Bay , in front of Club Suede. Five people were shot, one fatally, and 4 were injured. No officers were injured. The investigation is ongoing. I have coordinated a community meeting for tomorrow night, Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 from 5pm – 7pm at Tel-Hi Neighborhood Center, 660 Lombard Street to provide a brief overview of the shooting incident and to allow district residents and merchants the opportunity to voice their concerns and ask question. Please attend if you can.

You may have heard the news about a recent fatal shooting that occurred over the weekend outside Suede, a local nightclub. In response, SFPD Central Station Captain Anna Brown has worked with the Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District to organize a community meeting to discuss the situation.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
This week, our station’s undercover officers continued coordinated efforts to deal with pick pocketers on MUNI paid off! Officers made a great pickpocket arrest on the F Line using a decoy officer. The perpetrator has a history of victimizing MUNI riders and he was caught red handed. We will continue to run these special operations in addition to riding MUNI on a daily basis, both in uniform and in plain clothes.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
Central Station’s Community Advisory Board met this past, Tuesday, January 19, 2010. I provided an update on the district and then members present discussed specific areas of concern. The group decided to break up into three sub-committees to work on the following ongoing problems: entertainment venues, prostitution, and graffiti. The group will report back at our next meeting, February 24, 2010. A special thank you to Deputy City Attorney Jill Cannon. DCA Cannon attended our meeting and explained how their office can partner with us to deal with code violations and blight that affect our quality of life. At our meeting next month, Officer Christopher Putz from our Department’s Graffiti Unit will be on hand to share information with our group. I will also try to schedule Officer Putz to attend one of our monthly community meetings. Attached you will find an informational flyer on graffiti, sent by Officer Putz, that may answer some of your questions.

January 19, 2010—Members of the Community Police Advisory Board met this evening to listen to a report from Capt. Brown on the month’s activities and to discuss neighborhood concerns from each Board member who represent all areas in the district: Nob Hill, North Beach, Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill, Chinatown, Barbary Coast.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
Last week, I had reported that the Chinese New Year Parade would be held on the evening of March 6th; the correct date is Saturday, February 27th.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
Saturday, January 9, 2010, we welcomed two solo motorcycle officers to our station. Officer Joseph Mayers and Officer Corrado Petruzella are tenured officers of the Department and have worked the solo motorcycle detail downtown for many years. The addition of these two very knowledgeable and experienced officers in the area of traffic enforcement and accident investigation is invaluable.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
It is with great sadness that I start our first newsletter of the year reporting the loss of one of our midnight sergeants. Sergeant Robert Harwood passed away on December 29, 2009. Members of the Department, and specifically members of Central Station, mourn the loss of our friend and colleague. He was a dedicated officer who inspired many with his selfless leadership. He will be sorely missed. He will never be forgotten.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Message
I hope that you all had a very nice holiday, and maybe even a long weekend. We are now preparing for New Year’s Eve in the district. I am sure we will have a lot of festivities going on to welcome in the New Year. I would like to wish all of you a very safe and Happy New Year.

Auto "boostings"
One of the many operations we have been running in the district this past month is that of auto boosting. Within this past week, officers made two separate arrests of auto burglars. In both cases, the suspects were in possession of burglar tools and stolen items.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Hello all. I just returned from Cabo San Lucas , Mexico where the weather was on average 80 degrees. It was our first time there and we certainly played the tourist, taking tours to La Paz, Tanto Santo and San Jose, cruising to see the Arch that separates the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, taking a Sunset Cruise where we saw whales, and then taking time to use the spa, lay on the beach and brush up on our Spanish. I could not believe the vendors on the beach, selling all kinds of wares from fake silver jewelry to blankets, hats and trinkets, all speaking English quite well. It appears that permits are not an issue in Cabo!

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Last week I read an interesting article in the November issue of The Police Chief magazine. It was titled “Predictive Policing: What Can We Learn from Wal-Mart and Amazon about Fighting Crime in a Recession?” by Charlie Beck, Chief of Detectives, Los Angeles Police Department.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

I hope all of you are enjoying the holidays with friends and family and also taking advantage of the many holiday events throughout the City. Whether it is ice skating in Union Square or Embarcadero, shopping, going to lunch or dinner, or taking children or grandchildren to see the Nutcracker, make it a safe and merry holiday season.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER


If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Comments
This past Friday, we officially started our holiday shopping season. We also had our annual Fur Friday protestors in the Union Square Area and I am happy to say that there were no significant issues with the protestors; I’m sure that the rain may have had something to do with that! By Friday evening the weather cleared up, just in time for thousands to enjoy the annual tree lighting ceremony in Union Square. Although a very large crowd, I am happy to say that we didn’t have any major issues. I want to thank the Tactical Unit, Market Street Beat Officers, and the Parking Control Officers for assisting Central Station Officers with these events this past Friday.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
If you don’t report the crime—it never happened!

Captain’s Comments
Hello to everyone! I would like to start out my first newsletter congratulating Commander James Dudley on his promotion. I know he will be missed by the members of Central Station, as well as our community members. However, we are fortunate in that Commander Dudley will oversee the Metro Division which includes the Central District, as well as Northern, Southern and Mission Stations, so he will continue to keep a pulse on what is happening in the district, and more importantly, he will be available to me as a resource.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Enjoy the lull, if you will. Traditionally, this has been a slow time in the district with earlier darkness and cold taking hold. The last week of the month will kick off the holiday season, beginning the day after Thanksgiving, also known as ‘Black Friday’ by shoppers and retailers or ‘Fur Free Friday’, in regards to Animal Rights Protests. It also kicks off the start for the “Safe Shopper” holiday staffing plan around the Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square area. Staffing will be increased in those areas with help from MTA at congested intersections and the need for pedestrian assistance in some areas. We also concentrate on parking lot and garage patrols with the aid from our Auto Detail of the Investigations Bureau in preventing Auto Burglary.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Halloween in the Central District seemed to be bigger than ever this year. Several thousands of costumed throngs landed in the district from the southern tip around Union Square up Chinatown, around the Embarcadero to Fisherman’s Wharf and up Columbus to Broadway. There were several dozens of venues with entertainment and festivities that kept the party going until well past 3 AM. Dozens of Officers were on hand in the concentrated areas from Central, other District Stations, the Tactical Company and of course the Traffic Company as well. We welcomed the help.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
A week ago we teamed up with Southern Station and the Traffic Company to accommodate the movement of President Obama’s visit to San Francisco. It was somewhat challenging a few thousand demonstrators and supporters crowding the Eastern side of Union Square.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
This past week was a short one with the Monday holiday and President Obama’s visit to the Union Square area on Thursday. Fisherman’s Wharf had their annual Piersafe Emergency Prevention Drill on Friday 10/16/09. Saturday was the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake. All were good reminders to plan ahead for big events. NERT, the SF Fire Department’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Training is a great place to start. Check out the website and be a NERT! (I am).

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
This weekend was a challenge to be sure. There were lots of people in the district to celebrate Fleet Week and the Columbus Day Parade and festivities. Despite uncooperative weather, I would estimate at least as many people as in previous years, and maybe even more at the parade.

For the first time in my history, the Blue Angels were forced to cancel the air show due to poor weather and poor visibility after a few short test runs on both Saturday and Sunday. All in all, most who attended had a good time.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments

Sometimes the system works well:
You may recall reading here about a burglar who attempted two break-ins within an hour on Alta and then on Vallejo Streets a few months ago. Officer Dwight Lee, one of the arresting officers, reported that the burglar was in court last week and was given three consecutive 5-year sentences for a total of 15 years in prison for three separate burglaries.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
This past week was a busy one in the district. Officers helped manage the Autumn Moon Festival and Parade through Chinatown. On Thursday we managed a labor union march and protest in the Union Square area. Civil disobedience resulted in the arrest and citation of 100 individuals on Powell Street and Stockton Streets at two different locations.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Drunk Driving
This year, our drunken driving arrests have certainly increased at Central Station. This weekend Central Officers made three arrests in the district. One of those arrested actually attempted to use the drive in service at Central, running into three SFPD marked vehicles in the process. The entire event was captured on our station cameras as the South Carolina man peeled out of the North Beach garage and fishtailed into the crash in front of the station. Thankfully, no one was injured in the process. The other two arrests, at 1:10 AM on 9/19/09 at Broadway and Montgomery, and the other at 2 AM on 9/18/09 at Bush and Larkin, both men hailed from out of town in Fremont and Pacifica.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

The Chief of Police will be in Chinatown this Friday (September 14) at 4 PM at Cameron House at 920 Sacramento if you want to address any issues.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
September is National Preparedness Month
Living in the electronic age tends to make us forget what things were like before computers, text messaging and cell phones. Think about what to do when those things are not available when an emergency strikes. Whether we experience a natural disaster, or a man made one, consider having paper copies of important information. Having an e-version will be of no help when the power goes down. Have a list of neighbors, those with special needs, evacuation plans, reunification plans, bank account numbers, and other things that will be needed in the 72 hours or longer that you may have to go without assistance.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
September is National Preparedness Month—Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed, Get Involved. This month is also the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake and we all remember how disruptive THAT was. (I still grumble about how the earthquake halted the 1989 World Series and how Oakland got to use their two best starters twice against the Giants!)

.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Would you like to be a partner in Community Policing in the Central District? Send me an e-mail with your information and interest in being a part of the Central Citizen’s Policing Advisory Board. Send me your name, address, phone number, e-mail and whether you are a resident, business owner and any related experience and skill.

Your Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association board of directors is concerned about noise generated by motorcycles—especially along our two busy, main thoroughfares: Broadway and The Embarcadero.

You can help!

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Would you like to be a partner in Community Policing in the Central District? Send me an e-mail with your information and interest in being a part of the Central Citizen’s Policing Advisory Board, (CPAB). Send me your name, address, phone number, e-mail and whether you are a resident, business owner and any related experience and skill.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Interested in meeting our new Chief George Gascon? Interested in speaking to members of the SFPD Police Commission? On Wednesday September 2nd, 2009 at 6 PM you will have your chance to do both. The Police Commission will convene their meeting in the Central District at the Gordon J. Lau School at Washington and Stockton Streets. I will give an overview of the district including crime stats and some of our crime fighting strategies. My presentation will be brief to give anyone time for public comment. There is limited parking, so please take public transit if possible.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
How do we measure success? With hot dogs of course!

The idea behind National Night Out is to bring neighbors together in a safe and friendly environment. For the third year in a row we coordinated a get together in North Beach.

This year’s National Night Bocce with Cops event at the Joe Dimaggio Playground was a growing success.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Auto Burglary is the most often committed non-violent crime in the district-
The second week of July was a bad week for auto boosts. In all, there were 16 laptop computers taken, 14 backpacks and purses, 9 GPS systems and 7 Ipods. I am bewildered why people would continue to leave such valuables in plain sight in their parked and unattended vehicles. Auto boosting is done most often by individuals grazing an area, walking along rows of parked cars in garages or on the street with an eye out for exposed, valuable property. The act of breaking the window and grabbing the property takes literally less than one minute to complete.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

There are a few happenings in the district today and tomorrow that may affect traffic flow, especially around the foot of Market to Broadway and the Embarcadero,

Expect delays at high commute times, (yes, even more than usual).

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Robbery, (211 of the California Penal Code), is defined as: “The felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear.” There are varying degrees but you get the gist. We have recently seen a spike in robbery incidents in the form of grab and run robberies and in the form of pickpockets aboard Muni. We recently had a rash of most probably, one or two serial pickpockets along the F line along the Embarcadero and on the 30 Stockton bus line Often, the victim may be on a crowded bus and not realize that they were pocket picked until they reach for their wallet in their pocket or purse. Some of our reports are titled “Somewhere in SF” because the victim cannot tell when it actually occurred. There are a few things you can do to prevent being a pickpocket victim:

CENTRAL DISTRICT FLASH!

On 7/23/09 at 4:45 AM, Central Station Plainclothes Officers observed two men walking on Montgomery and California, both carrying backpacks. One of the men was recognized as a suspect in the Chinatown River Rock Burglaries by the Officers Matt Sullivan and John Murphy. Rather than lose sight of the suspects and knowing that one had an active parole warrant, the suspects were detained. One suspect broke free and fled to the front of 555 California where he was captured. The suspect attempted to dump a backpack that he had been wearing. The officers recovered several items including tools used to break windows and a brick, flashlight and rubber mallet.
The suspects are described as:

• white male, 45 years, no local address 6' 185 brown/blue


• white male 40 years no local address 5'8 155 brown/brown

Both suspects were booked into County Jail, and Inspector Joe Nannery of the Burglary Detail is doing a follow up of seven similar cases.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

The Good Samaritan-
I talked about tuning up your bikes for summer a few newsletters ago. I try to practice what I preach and last weekend I changed two bald tires and one inner tube on my road bike. On Sunday I was out for a long ride when I experienced a flat tire. Of course, I was about 6 miles from home, BUT I did have a spare tube with me. I stopped at a shady spot and changed the tire when, on my last few pumps, the stem broke off at the connection.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
My name is Lieutenant Richard Pate and I will be the Acting Captain until James Dudley returns in July 13, 2009. I have been assigned to the night watch at Central Station since October 2008. I have been in the department since 1981, and I have to admit this is near the top of my list of stations that I have been assigned to. I hope this newsletter will provide you with the same information that Captain Dudley has sent you.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
This will be the last newsletter by me for a few weeks. Lt. Rich Pate will be Acting Captain until July 13 when I return. If you miss a newsletter, try checking www.thebarbarycoastnews.com for current and archived police reports.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
This coming weekend is the:

North Beach Festival
from Columbus / Grant to Washington Square Park
Saturday and Sunday from 10AM-6 PM

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
June is a month of street fairs, demonstrations and protests in the Central District. The North Beach Festival will run June 13 & 14 at Washington Square and the area. Many schools let out and thus, we’ll see many more kids of all ages out and about during the daytime hours. Be aware and use your defensive driving skills during commute hours and during your day when children are on the streets.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Burglary, (459 of the Penal Code), is the crime of entering a structure with intent to commit a theft or other felony. Most common is a suspect breaking into your home and taking property. Second degree burglary is a commercial building or business. The most serious, Hot Prowl Burglary is a suspect entering your home while you are present, day or night. It is considered most serious since there is potential for violence or confrontation with the resident.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Internet Safety
A lot has been said about who you may meet or chat with online. Whole curriculums have been developed to keep kids safe from on-line predators, and that is a good thing. Kids are much more aware now that the person, who may claim to be a peer, could be something altogether different, like a convicted sex offender. Today, the Net is used for thousands if not millions of transactions. Most are legitimate, others, not so legitimate and not so safe. Recently, some large internet classifieds sites have made concessions to keep transactions safe. It is still up to the purchaser to keep in mind the adage, “Let the Buyer Beware,” in more ways than one. There are a lot of scams out there on the Net and in print classifieds as well as people hawking products right on the street.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Violent crime is serious. It is our number one priority in response and prevention. Reports are reviewed each day and each month a CompStat presentation is done to check for crime patterns and series. Crime Maps are generated to get a visual view of crime within the district. Recently after a few high profile robbery cases, the community and media have been calling to inquire about the “rash” or “spike” or “increase” in violent crime within the Central District. Union Square was of particular concern recently because of two high profile robbery cases. I was assured by our Robbery Detail that there were certainly no “take over style” robberies within the district or elsewhere in the City for that matter.

CASE NO.: 090433671 - break-in at 733 Front Street
DESCRIPTION: white, male, adult
WEIGHT/HEIGHT: 5' 6" to 5' 8", stocky build
CLOTHING: wearing a printed hoodie, jeans and backpack

A burglary in progress was recently called in to Central Police Station. The male was said to have tried to enter and was still onscene. A backpack with some tools was found at the back door.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
I learned a lot about epidemiology since this whole flu issue came up. Public Health issues and how they assess and handle their response is a lot like police work. Prevention is the best strategy. After that, as incidents occur, we both look at the problem and go back to the root causes. After looking back, we come up with a strategy and look into the future. In both professions we use a variation of the SARA Model of Problem Solving:

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Robberies have been the crimes of note this week. Yesterday on 4/27/09 at 9 AM a bank was robbed on the 200 block of Montgomery Street. Officer John Ferrando responded and took the report and coordinated with the Robbery Detail and communications. The 40 year old black male suspect was tracked onto Muni rail and arrested across the City within an hour. It was a great piece of coordination, determination and anticipation. Suspects have been known to use public transit to blend in with crowds, especially in the downtown area.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments:
Although the current heat wave may not last for long, please remember to lock doors and windows, especially if located on ground floors or near accessible areas. Most daytime burglaries and night time “hot prowl” burglaries occur via unlocked doors or windows. With summer approaching, now is a good time to check window locks and screens. Some locks allow for windows to stay open and lock into place, too small for a person to crawl through. Remember too that despite being an urban area, we have lots of bats in the City. Screens allow for ventilation but can keep bats outside where they belong. Each year the Department of Public Health puts out warnings. If you suspect you have been bitten but do not have the bat, you may be subject to unnecessary and painful preventative treatment for rabies.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
What would happen if power and communication systems stopped working right now? I know that avid readers would sit by candlelight to finish my comments, but, what about after that?
April 9th was the day when several phone lines were cut, causing disruption across three counties and having major impact on individuals, homes and businesses. It should serve us as a reminder that we cannot rely on phone communication, including cell, texting or e-mail in a man made or natural disaster. Now would be a good time to do an assessment of home and work regarding:

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
My heart goes out to the members of the Oakland Police Department and especially to all the families of the victim officers in last week’s tragedy. It is a profoundly saddening situation that cannot be rationalized or justified.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments:
We send our thoughts and sympathy to the lives affected by the fallen Oakland Police Department Officers. It serves as a reminder of how violent and life threatening our jobs can be.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
A colleague of mine in the Department of Public Health retorts, when asked what he’s been doing is always the same: “Saving Lives!” I always think that he is being facetious, but today I acknowledge that he does indeed save lives everyday, just like me and you. Today it was more obvious how we do it. I just finished a meeting at Fisherman’s Wharf when I heard the dispatch radio call of a “dead body in the water off Pier 45.” I turned my vehicle around and headed that way, thinking of the procedures and notifications.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
I am fresh back from a short vacation in Boca Grande in Florida this past week and as I soaked in all the sunshine, baseball and beaches, I wondered how to tie it all into this week’s newsletter with a safety twist to it. It was easy, as I thought about all the e-mails I have been getting with links to Facebook, Plaxo and other websites dedicated to promoting yourself through the on-line pages.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Sometimes these newsletters write themselves, (yeah, I wish!). Each month the District Police Captains give briefings to the Patrol Deputy Chief and Commander and sometimes the Chief. The power point presentations consist of information about the district, crime statistics and crime issues and how we address them. There are also components of management, such as how many times “Use of Force” occurs each month.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments:
After our Police Community Meeting last week I drove away thinking that our district is really a lot like a small town. If given the boundaries of the Central District alone, it would be one of the best and most diverse and vibrant cities in America. We have, of course, 65,000 full-time residents, many major employers, a tourist industry, 12,000 hotel rooms, major gathering venues such as theatres, retail and entertainment corridors, parks, public squares, a fishing and wharf industry, Chinatown, the Financial District, North Beach and a lot more. This month’s Sunset Magazine listed the “Top 20 Small Towns to Live In;” I think they missed one.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Happy Presidents Day! With the short week, comes the short newsletter. The weather has certainly been a factor in crime and events being very low key. Protests in the district were very manageable. Officers at the Valentines Day Pillow Fight in Justin Herman Plaza on Saturday saw no problems. A protest at a religious organization on Columbus was equally non-eventful. Broadway was certainly dampened and subdued as the numbers reflect below. The hot spot of the weekend was indeed volatile, with a shooting occurring at a nightclub on the 600 block of Jackson Street, on 2/16/09 at 1:27 AM, leaving one 21 year old from Oakland with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. A 17 year old from San Francisco was arrested and a handgun was recovered near the shooting.

February 9, 2009 at 3:45 pm— On the 500 block of Battery Street at a bank [Bank of America], officers responded to a bank robbery. The teller told Officer Rod Lee that the suspect, a 40 year-old, black male wearing a blue suit and red tie, asked for help with his ATM card.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
Thousands attended and braved the cold at this year’s Chinese New Year’s Parade. The good news included no precipitation. Officers did have to quell hotspots along the parade route from over zealous crowds, the very few misbehaving individuals and later at bars along the 900 block of Grant Avenue. All in all, it was a well attended and managed event.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Comments
The charts below indicate crime in the Central District over the past two years. Consider that we have approximately 68,000 full time residents, 12,000 hotel rooms, many major employers, over 750 ABC licenses including restaurants, bars, clubs and liquor stores, large retail corridors and 7 of the top 10 tourist attractions in San Francisco. Our homicide totals were two for each of the past two years.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Gung Hay Fat Choy!
The Year of the Ox is here, and fell on January 26, 2009. The annual parade and festivities will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2009. Get your seat now for the parade that begins south of Market, winds up Geary, around Union Square, down Post and up Kearny to Portsmouth. It is always a bigger than life event and one to be witnessed.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

The" Walk For Life" Pro Life Event will take place this Saturday 1/24/09 at 11 AM near Justin Herman Plaza. Several thousands are expected to rally at 11 am at Ferry Park with speeches and a sound system. There is an opposition group of an estimated 1,000 or more who have a permit from Rec and Rec to rally at the Music Concourse across from the Ferry Building near the foot of Market Street. Both groups have sound system permits.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

REWARD!-
We cannot stop crime without help from you. You can help by reporting crime 24/7 by calling 911. After the fact crime can be reported on-line at the SFGOV/Police website, you can call the non-emergency 553-0123 to make a phone report or ask for an officer to respond to your location, or you can go to your nearest station to file a report. For non-criminal issues, call 311 to get help from other City services. When you do any of those things, you are helping us tackle crime issues. Let that be your reward.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

The Central District is so rich and diverse in so many ways, so much so that we even have two New Year’s Days! This year the Chinese Lunar New Year’s falls in the same month. Please read below, from SAFE, plans to celebrate and to bring awareness to crime prevention strategies.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Last week I worked two night shifts in the district for a Palestinian Protest at the Israeli Consulate and of course, on New Year’s Eve. I observed, first hand, that the cold weather did not seem to damper the enthusiasm of either crowd. The good news is that both events of over several thousands in attendance ended well. No arrests at the protest and march and approximately a dozen on NYE in the district. The officers assigned to the protest and march did a good job of leap frogging the march and managed the two opposite groups, despite heated and potentially volatile exchanges. In the end, there were no arrests, no injuries and no incidents other than brief traffic congestion.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year!

Take my word for it—Crime does not take a holiday! In the past few weeks we have been deluged with an active arsonist of porta-potties in the Russian Hill area, totaling more than 10. Auto break-ins have not let up either. Maybe Santa gave the wrong people some new tools last week. Auto boosters have targeted shoppers, tourists and residents alike. The usual small electronics are the most desired articles sought out by the burglars.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Happy Holidays!

The next two weeks newsletters will be somewhat abbreviated. Many are away traveling or home for the holidays. In January I will give a summary of 2008 and a glimpse of things to come in 2009. I can tell you now that we’ve had the good fortune of few officer injuries, few homicides in the district, (2 to date), and good problem solving success. This is a district with good community support and rapport.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Happy Holidays!

Two things served this weekend as a reminder to be careful on the wet streets and roads this winter. This weekend, a member of our Traffic Motorcycle Unit was seriously injured when he was hit while riding his motorcycle. We hope for his full and speedy recovery of very serious injuries. I cannot think of an accident that could not have been avoided. In this case, I am sure the wet pavement had a lot to do with the unfortunate accident. Please check your vehicle for all safety devices to be in good functioning order. Check brakes, tire pressure and tread, windshield wipers and all lights. Above all else, make sure you slow down, obey all the traffic laws and be aware of other drivers. One bit of good advice: delay a moment or two before taking off after the light changes green for you. Especially on the multi lanes of traffic, the crossing traffic may enter just as the light changes red on their side as well.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Happy Holidays!

We attempt to keep you informed about all the crime issues in this newsletter. We also want to remind you of other safety concerns. A few weeks ago we had a fatality in the district regarding the lighting of a fireplace fire that got out of control. With the very cold weather coupled with high heating costs, people are inclined to light up fireplaces, candles and, heaven forbid, other sources. Caution should be used in fireplaces. Screens should be in place, wood, fire starters and newspapers should be placed well away from a lit fireplace. Liquid gasoline, kerosene and BBQ fluid should never be used when lighting a fireplace. Every year we see deaths related to charcoal fires used for warmth in confined places like unventilated rooms or vehicles. Charcoal fires deplete oxygen and can cause people from losing consciousness and worse. Charcoal fires should not be used indoors.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Happy Holidays!
Can you believe it is already December? After the Friday events and tree lighting at Union Square, I can certainly believe it! We achieved a critical mass of our own that evening when everyone crowded in at 6 PM to witness the lighting of the tree. It was indeed a sight to behold with every inch between Stockton, Post, Powell and Geary occupied by shoppers and tree gazers. Other indications of this time of the year are the facts that we have 4 ice skating rinks in town and shoplifting and thefts increase significantly.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

I am sure we can all think of something to be thankful for. This year we have been blessed with very few officers injured and district wide we have had only one homicide, (with the suspect arrested), and no vehicle related fatalities. In that vein, we have had few traffic related injuries as well. In fact, at last count, we were third lowest citywide, out of ten district stations in traffic related injuries. (Unfortunately early this morning at 1 am, an individual was shot and killed on the 400 block of Broadway. There are no suspects in custody at this time.)

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

The Central Station Community Policing Meeting will be this Thursday 11/20/08 at 6 PM at Central Station. Our meeting room is small but we will accommodate all comers.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

The holiday and demonstration season is upon us. Last week before Halloween we had Immigration Rights demonstrators barricade themselves with 55 gallon drums and handcuffs. his month we will have Proposition 8 protests at Justin Herman Plaza and we anticipate protests on “Fur Free Friday” on the day after Thanksgiving. Combine those with labor union actions, environmental groups and religious groups and we have our troops spread thin.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain James Dudley is at training this week. The following is submitted by Officer Fred Crisp.

Halloween has come and gone and as you can see by the Broadway statistics following these comments, it was just another weekend on Broadway. The convergence of Halloween on a Friday night, a Critical Mass event and Broadway patrons were adroitly handled by assigned officers.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Three Days till Halloween!
Please help keep it safe this year. At dusk and then at dark, expect to see costumed little ones out and about on their hunt for treats! Be especially aware when driving, that the quest for sweets often drives otherwise rational kids into a frenzy, often running from one house to another. Later in the evening, be on the look out for the older crowd at our adult venues. There are always a very small percentage of ghouls and marauding types that appear to cause trouble. Be on the look out for them and help yourself by hanging out with friends and staying sober. This year, the City has created several alternative venues for people to attend and celebrate, from the Castro, to South of Market to a free event at Lot A near the Giant’s Ball Park.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Situational awareness is a phrase making the rounds these days. It simply means that you should be aware of your surroundings, behaviors of others and what the history is in the area that you are or will be at. That means that if you are in an area where cars are being boosted, to keep valuables out of the car or at least out of sight. It means that if there is a rash of robberies at a particular area at a specific time, to be mindful of others, have keys at the ready and take a buddy with you whenever possible.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Community Policing works when the community gets together with local police and things get done. We work hard to communicate through forums like e-mail, face to face meetings and at events. A big component is the policing part that is catching ‘bad guys’. This past week the officers at Central Station showed their versatility by policing the large events that were Fleet Week and the Italian Heritage Parade and Festival, (formerly known as Columbus Day). They also captured some ‘bad guys.’

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Fall is officially here, it’s getting darker sooner and no doubt the rain will follow. Now is a good time to check windshield wiper blades and to be on the lookout for bicycles and pedestrians during commute hours. At the end of the month there will be masses out on the streets of San Francisco, free wheeling all over the place. Expect for lots of people and bikes out this October 31st. Not only will it be Halloween, but it will also coincide with Critical Mass, the all-out bicycle rodeo around town.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Burglary, Robbery and Auto Burglaries occur in the district in varying patterns. After a review of the crimes for the months of July and August, some patterns are evident. Daytime before 5 PM are the highest times for a burglary to occur. Residences are by far the most frequent, although construction sites are next highest at nearly 30%. I spoke recently regarding such incidents and recalled that one afternoon, while canvassing North Beach construction sites, we found 10 locations where tools and equipment were left unattended. The theft of opportunity can easily be avoided by securing equipment and tools in locked containers when they are unattended or otherwise not in use.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

I am just back from a quick trip to the Eastern Sierras. The sights were great at Mono Lake, Devil’s Postpile, Gem Lake, June Lake and Mammoth Mountain. I even ran into a bunch of tourists trying to figure out the Italian script on the back of their Caffe Roma t-shirts at the foot of Rainbow Falls.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Two fatal incidents occurred this week, both within hours of each on 9/11/08. Just after midnight, officers were alerted to a call of a suspect breaking into vehicles on the unit block of Alta, near Coit Tower. At one point, the suspect ran from one of the victim vehicles and attempted to flee, vaulting a wall at the end of the street. The suspect did not survive the fall of over 150 feet to the foot of the hill at Sansome and Filbert Streets.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

September is National Preparedness Month, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

During National Preparedness Month, we underscore the important responsibility Americans have to be ready for emergencies in our homes, businesses, and communities.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

To date, we have had no vehicle related accident fatalities in the district. Also to date, we have had no, zero homicides in the district for the year 2008.

In the past 4 days there have been a rash of serial robberies of commercial establishments in the early morning hours. The places that have been hit are all-night commercial establishments on the Western side of the City, but everyone should be aware and take care.

I have received inquiries about media reported crimes, especially the Oakland Restaurant Robbery Series in Oakland, by concerned citizens in Chinatown. There is an open informational crime forum that will be held in Chinatown to help people arm themselves with information and to allay fears of crime perceptions.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”

Thanks to Officer Fred Crisp for putting together last week’s newsletter. I am back from vacation but hopefully soon we will have a volunteer working at Central Station and one of his duties will be to assemble the newsletter. I will continue to write the “Captain’s Comments” section but he will do the remaining segments.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain Dudley is on vacation, he will return 8/25. The following is submitted by Officer Fred Crisp.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Thanks to Sergeant Carl T and Officers Ben Santana and George Perez for coordinating the Bocce Night at Joe DiMaggio Playground last Tuesday for the National Night Out Event. Thanks to all the community members and Cindy Brandon of SAFE, Rose Dennis of Rec and Park and Tel-Hi coordinator Tim Daniels, Trader Joe’s and Safeway who shared in the event. I understand that all who attended had a great time. Want to help make Joe DiMaggio Park even better? Please read below, the announcement from the Parks Council.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Come take part in
National Night Out
August 5, 2008

A national event that brings neighbors together with the police to strengthen community spirit & affirm our partnership for a SAFER & STRONGER Neighborhood!
When: Tuesday, August 5th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: North Beach Club House, Bocce Ball Courts, Mason & Lombard
Sponsored by: SFPD Central Station, SAFE, Rec and Park and Tel-Hi
For more information or to help co-sponsor the event, contact Officer Fred Crisp at (415) 315-2423 or centralstation_permitofficer@sfgov.org

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Good things are happening here in the district. We are 2 for 2 at City Commissions this week. On Tuesday July 15, 2008 the Entertainment Commission turned down an entertainment permit for the first time in my three year tenure here. Reason cited were lack of management experience, past incidents at the location on the 400 block of Broadway and a lack of a good security plan.

CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

On Wednesday July 9 at 11 AM, I was at the Cable Car turnaround at Bay and Taylor Streets when I saw an elderly woman with a cane across the intersection attempting to step up onto the curb when she obviously began to lose her balance. Just as she went backwards, arms and legs akimbo, Sanford Cipinko, “Attorney at Law” swept in. Mr. Cipinko reached out with his right arm and cradled the falling woman, meanwhile balancing a cup of coffee in his free hand.