CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

As I write about this week, on Valentine’s Day, my heart and prayers go out to the murdered police officers and their families in Southern California. Finally, the manhunt for Christopher Dorner is over as he succumbed in a firefight with police in the mountains of Big Bear, California. This suspect and former police officer was truly a domestic terrorist. I wonder how he passed the psychological exam to enter the L.A.P.D.

With the Chinese New Year’s Celebration comes an influx of people coming into Chinatown. I would like to remind everyone to drive safely not only in Chinatown but all over the city. There are plenty of pedestrians and bicycle riders on the streets. This is true especially in the Central District where we have a high concentration of people living in this area. In fact the Central District is approximately 1.8 square miles, has a population of 75,000 residents but on any afternoon day that population swells to approximately 350,000 people because of the influx of people coming into the Union Square, Financial District, Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf Areas.

The “arrest of the week” goes to a private citizen. On Wednesday, February 13th at 2:00pm a lady was walking on the 400 block of Jones Street near Sutter talking on her IPhone 5. The suspect came from behind and ripped her phone from her hand and began running Southbound on Jones St. As the victim screamed for help a “hero” came and pushed the suspect to the ground. The suspect resisted and the good Samaritan placed the victim in a choke hold and subdued the suspect. It should be noted the citizen happened be an expert in Brazilian Ju Jitsu. He held the suspect for the police.

I hope you have a great Valentine’s Day.



Central Station Community Meeting
The community meeting will be moved to 1524 Powell Street at Cathay Post. The meeting will take place on the third Wednesday of every month at 5:30 pm. The next meeting will be on February 20th.

EXPLORE NORTH BEACH FOOD TOUR
Always rated 5 stars!-With Explore SF, you don't have to be a local to find the best spots! A native San Franciscan will show you the finest that North Beach has to offer. North Beach is a food lover's mecca, the destination for people who love delicious food. Never the same twice, likely dining choices include antipasti, pizza, pasta, fondue, breads, cheeses, gourmet chocolates, cannoli, tiramisu, gelato and more! See coffee being roasted and pastries baked in wood fired ovens.


CHINESE NEW YEAR RUN: YEAR OF THE SNAKE
The Chinatown YMCA will hold their 35th annual Chinese New Year’s run on Sunday, February 17th. The route begins on Sacramento and Grant, and ends at Kearny and California.

GRAND JURY Become a member of the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury. The Civil Grand Jury scrutinizes the conduct of public business of County government. Its function is to investigate the operations of the various officers, departments and agencies of the government of the City and County of San Francisco. Each Civil Grand Jury determines which officers, departments and agencies it will investigate during its term of office. Deadline to apply is Monday, April 15th. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION or call 415-551-3605.

SUNDAY STREETS is an event sponsored by the City of San Francisco that creates a large, temporary, public space by closing off a portion of a neighborhood's streets to automobile traffic, and opening them to pedestrians, bicyclists, and activities for several hours on a Sunday. www.sundaystreetssf.com.

OTHER EVENTS CAN BE FOUND AT: Upcoming Events - SFRPD:

GUN STOP PROGRAM
The Gun Stop Program was implemented to help reduce violence in our community. The program is designed for members of the community to call in anonymously and report persons who are illegally in possession of a firearm. If the information given results in an arrest and a firearm is recovered, the anonymous caller is eligible for a monetary reward.

The Gun Stop Program Procedures:
- Contact the anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444
- The information will be entered into a database
- Guns that qualify for this program:
Illegal assault weapons that are located in S.F.
- Any person who is in illegal possession of a gun, on his person in public, or is prohibited from possessing a firearm (i.e.) a concealed handgun on person or in vehicle, an ex-felon (and an arrest is made on said person)
- Owners turning in guns do not qualify for the reward
Anonymous caller(s) will be given a number for identification purposes.

For more information on San Francisco Police services and programs please visit WWW.SF-POLICE.ORG

ROBBERY PREVENTION TIPS
Every business owner, manager and employee plays a part in making businesses safe. Here are some things you can do to help prevent robbery:
• Have at least two employees open and close the business.
• Do not release personal information to strangers.
• Keep purses and personal valuables locked in desks or lockers.
• Install a robbery alarm.
• Place a surveillance camera behind the cash register facing the front counter. Replace videotapes regularly.
• Vary times and routes of travel for bank deposits.
• Don't use marked "moneybags" that make it obvious to would-be robbers you are carrying money for deposit.
• Keep a low balance in the cash register.
• Place excess money in a safe or deposit it as soon as possible.
• Cooperate with the robber for your own safety and the safety of others. Comply with a robber's demands. Remain calm and think clearly. Make mental notes of the robber's physical description and other observations important to law enforcement officers.
• If you have a silent alarm and can reach it without being noticed, use it. Otherwise, wait until the robber leaves.
• Be careful, most robbers are just as nervous as you are.
• Keep your business neat and clean. A tidy, orderly place of business is inviting to customers, but not to robbers. Dressing neatly also sends the right message.
• Stay alert! Know who is in your business and where they are. Watch for people who hang around without buying anything. Also, be aware of suspicious activity outside your place of business. Write down license numbers of suspicious vehicles if visible from the inside of your business.
• Make sure the sales counter can be seen clearly. Don't put up advertisements, flyers, displays, signs, posters or other items on windows or doors that might obstruct the view of the register from inside or outside your business. The police cruising by your store need to see in.
• Try to greet customers as they enter your business. Look them in the eye, and ask them if they need help. Your attention can discourage a robber.
• Keep your business well-lit, inside and outside. Employees should report any burned-out lights to the business owner or manager. Keep trees and bushes trimmed, so they don't block any outdoor lights.
• Encourage the police to stop by your business.
• Learn the names of the officers who patrol your business.
• Use care after dark. Be cautious when cleaning the parking lot or taking out the trash at night. Make sure another employee inside the business keeps you within eye contact while you are involved in work details outside of your building.
• If you see something suspicious, call the police. Never try to handle it yourself. It could cost you your life.
• Handle cash carefully. Avoid making your business a tempting target for robbers. Keep the amount of cash in registers low. Drop all large bills right away. If a customer tries to pay with a large bill, politely ask if he or she has a smaller one. Explain that you keep very little cash on hand.
• Use only one register at night. Leave other registers empty and open. Tilt the register drawer to show there is no money in it.
• Leave blinds and drapes partially open during closing hours.
• Make sure important signs stay posted. For example, the front door should bear signs that say, "Clerk Cannot Open the Time Lock Safe."
• If your business is robbed put your safety first. Your personal safety is more important than money or merchandise.
• Don't talk except to answer the robber's questions.
• Don't stare directly at the robber.
• Prevent surprises; keep your hands in sight at all times.
• Don't make any sudden moves.
• Tell the robber if someone is coming out of the back room or vault or working in another area of your business.
• Don't chase or follow the robber out of your place of business.
• Leave the job of catching the robber to the police.
After the robbery:• Lock your business.
• Ask any witnesses to stay until the police arrive.
• Call the police and remain on the line.
• Call your business owner, manager, or other designated person.
• Call the security hotline, if applicable.
• Don't touch anything the robber may have touched.
• Write down a description of the robber and the weapon as soon as you are able.

SFMTA
If you would like SFMTA staff to come to your neighborhood group, please contact us at tep@sfmta.com or call 701-4453.
For assistance in planning a bus route, use the “Trip Planner” at 511.org. With a Smartphone, you can download the 511 Transit App for free. If you do not have internet access, or need immediate route assistance, call 311 (TTY 415-701-2323).

LINE UP
The San Francisco Police department has launched a weekly segment called "The Line-Up". The Line-Up is a crime prevention tool that allows the public to get involved through social media. The goal is to get the public involved in solving cold case files by watching and identifying video surveillance of suspects committing crimes. Contact information will be listed below and the public can be anonymous if they choose. The San Francisco Police Department will be releasing one video per week of suspect(s) involved in a criminal act. Remember, you have the power to make a difference in our community. Be a crime fighter and help us in identifying these criminals.

Do you know a high school student interested
in learning about a career in law enforcement?
Applications are available for the 2012 PAL Law Enforcement Cadet Academy and Internship Program. The PAL Cadet program includes an intensive 4-week Summer Cadet Academy (June-July) followed by an SFPD station internship and community service (August through May.) Participants may stay in the program for as many years as they are eligible*
Applications and additional flyers (English and Spanish) are available for download at www.sfpal.org/cadets. For questions contact Lorraine@sfpal.org or 415-401-4669.

*Eligibility: must be between ages 14-20, be enrolled in high school or college, have and maintain a 2.0 GPA, reside or attend school in San Francisco and pass a criminal history
background check.



FENCING RING BUST
As mentioned over the past few weeks, out investigative team has recovered a huge amount of property as a part of a fencing ring bust. We get massive amounts of e-mail, daily, and are methodically working through all of them. If you have submitted a claim for your property, we thank you for your patience. We are taking great care with each claim to ensure that all of the property is identified and retuned.

If you have had property stolen and have not made a claim, follow the instructions below:
E-mail centralstationsit@yahoo.com and include….
- The file name associated with the photo(s) on the "subject" line of the email.
- A description of the item from the photo on the body of the email.
- The serial number (if available) from your records on the body of the email.
- The police report incident number (if available) on the body of the email.
- Your contact information (name, phone number, and address)


On 02/05/2013 at 3:41 pm A man walked into Barbacco’s at 220 California Street. He picked up two IPads, which the restaurant uses to display their wine list, and walked out of the restaurant. An employee followed the man outside, and asked for the IPads back. The employee detained the man, and waited for police to arrive. Police came and arrested the thief.

On 02/07/2013 at 12:20 pm A receptionist at 312 Sutter Street left her desk for a moment, leaving her wallet sitting out. When she returned, her wallet was gone. No suspects have been identified.

On 02/08/2013 at 9:45 am A woman boarded the 38 MUNI line on Geary Street and Arguello Street. She had a large purse slung over her shoulder, zipped. The bus was crowded, and many people were standing shoulder to shoulder. When the woman exited the bus, she immediately noticed that her purse had been unzipped, and her wallet was missing. Because of the volume of people on the bus, the victim has no idea who stole her wallet.

On 02/08/2013 at 11:20 pm Officer Torrise and Lieutenant Liu detained a man on the 500 block of Broadway Street for a vehicle code violation. During the detention it was discovered that the man had two outstanding warrants. The man was arrested.


On 02/10/2013 at 1:41 pm Officer Torrise was on foot patrol near the area of Grant Avenue and Columbus Street. Torrise saw a man standing on the sidewalk, rolling a marijuana cigarette. In addition to the marijuana, Torrise discovered that the man had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was immediately booked.

Even if you have a medical marijuana card, it is still illegal to smoke marijuana in public, or before or during the operation of a vehicle. Driving while high could result in being arrested for Driving Under the Influence. For more information CLICK HERE.

On 02/12/2013 at 5:38 pm A woman walked into Wharf Central on Taylor Street and stole a trench coat. An employee followed her until police arrived. When police detained her, they discovered that she had several outstanding warrants. She was immediately booked.

On 02/12/2013 at 3:00 pm A man parked his vehicle on the 500 block of Broadway street. When he returned to his vehicle at 4:00 am the next morning, he discovered that his front passenger window had been smashed out. Several items, including a laptop, had been taken from his vehicle. No suspects have been identified.

On 02/12/2013 at 6:50 pm Officer Randolf was patrolling the area of Powell Street and Vallejo Street when he saw a vehicle run a red light. Officer Randolf pulled the vehicle over and discovered that the driver had an outstanding warrant. The driver was immediately arrested.

On 02/12/2013 at 7:50 am A man walked into the Saint Francis Hotel and went to the exercise center. The hotel staff immediately recognized the man as a transient whom they have removed from the hotel on several recent occasions. Police responded to assist in escorting the man out of the hotel. He was also cited for trespassing, since he had already received several warnings.

On 02/12/2013 at 11:13 pm An unknown male walked up to a row of trash cans on Maiden Lane and Kearny Street. The man lit an unknown object inside of a trash can on fire. By the time the san Francisco Fire Department had arrived, four trash cans had been damaged. So far there are no leads in this arson.

On 02/13/2013 at 12:55 am A man stepped outside of a bar to smoke a cigarette. While outside he saw a group of black males fighting with a homeless man. He stepped into the fight with the intention of protecting the homeless man – causing the group of assailants to turn on him. One of the assailants struck the victim on the head with a blunt object before they all ran off. No suspects have been identified.