CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

CAPTAIN'S MESSAGE
This weekend will be one of the busiest weekends in the Central District as the conclusion of the Chinese New Year’s two week celebration will cumulate with the Grand Finale, the Chinese New Year’s Parade and Community Fair. The Community Fair along Grant Avenue will bring in close to 500,000 people into Chinatown over the weekend. One of my favorite Chinatown Bands, “Jest Jamin” will be playing at the Community Fair on Saturday at 2:00pm on the stage at Washington and Grant. Jest Jamin is led by lead singer, Reverend Norman Fong. They play oldies and Motown music. This is their 45th year together playing. The Community Fair starts at 10am and closes at 4:30pm. The parade will start at 5:15pm at New Montgomery and Market Streets. This year the route has changed due to construction in Union Square. Instead of travelling on Geary Street the route will past westbound on Post Street, northbound Powell, eastbound Sutter to northbound Kearny and disassemble at Kearny and Columbus. We should have approximately 150 cops to police the event. It looks like it’s not going to rain on our parade, this year. Please come out enjoy the family atmosphere and witness one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in the country. The expected crowd will be approximately 800,000 people.

I hope to see you in the crowd.


Central Station Community Meeting
The next community meeting is scheduled for March 20th. The location is TBD.

MEET OUR OFFICERS
Thanks to suggestions from our newsletter readers, we have decided to add a section highlighting officers from Central Station. This will be a great way for you to get to know us better.

UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
Place: Transamerica Building
Time: February 22nd and 23rd at 2:30 pm

'Pacifica' Opening- Art Party in North Beach!
Make Hang Gallery (450 Green Street) Experience new paintings and sculpture by the Pacifica Prize winners: Daria Bonet, Olga Bulgakova, Rema Ghuloum, and Sarah Hotchkiss. Pacifica features both Californian and Russian artists, crossing cultural divides, connecting disparate artistic styles gracefully together on canvas. Come over and get seduced by the smell of Maykadeh’s Persian food in the air, have a bite and a glass of wine, enjoy the artwork, and meet the artists. Valet parking is available out front. - Wednesday, Feb 27 6:00p to 9:00p

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 coming to The Embarcadero on March 10th! This event is sponsored by the City of San Francisco, and 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.

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GUN 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

Vacation Security
Crime and Violence Prevention Center • California Attorney General’s Office

Vacation is a time for fun and relaxation. Don’t let yours be ruined by crime. Follow the crime prevention tips below.
Before leaving . . .
• Have good locks on all doors and windows, and USE THEM!
• Engrave your valuables with your driver’s license number (preceded by “CA”) and post Operation I.D. stickers in entry doors and windows.
• Never leave your house key hidden outside under a doormat, in a flower pot, or on theledge of a door.
• Make your house appear “lived in.” Use timers for lights and radios. Have a neighbor or a friend pick up mail, packages and newspapers, and keep the lawns mowed and watered.
• Leave your trip plans and an emergency phone number with trusted neighbors or friends.
On the road
• Never carry large amounts of cash; use traveler’s checks. If you must carry large sums of money, do not display it openly.
• Keep a record of traveler’s check numbers and your credit card numbers in a safe place. Have the telephone numbers to call in case your checks or credit cards are lost or stolen.
• Be aware of your surroundings and never advertise your plans to strangers; this incudes travel routes and the amount of cash you are carrying.
• Do not stop to offer help to a stranded motorist. Go to the nearest phone booth and call for assistance.
• If you suspect someone is following you, drive to the nearest service station, restaurant or business and call the police or sheriff’s department. If you believe it is unsafe to get out of your car, sound your horn and flash your lights to draw attention.
• If your car breaks down, raise the hood and attach a white flag to the antenna. If someone stops to help, it is advisable that you stay in your locked car and ask them to call the police or a garage. If you must abandon your car, keep all passengers together.

Car Security
• Always lock your car after entering or leaving it.
• Park in well-lighted areas.
• Check the back seat before entering your car.
• Mark your car radio and other removable car equipment with your driver’s license number (preceded by “CA”).
• Always lock valuables out of sight, preferably in the trunk. Always carry wallet, checkbooks and purses with you.
• Do not advertise that you are a tourist. Place maps and travel brochures in the glove compartment.
Sight-seeing
Remember: Planning reduces your chances of becoming the victim of a crime.
• Ask for directions at a hotel/motel on how to get to those attractions you want to visit.
• Select tour guides carefully.
• Ask if there are any areas in town you should avoid. Stick to well-lighted main streets and public areas.
• Looking lost (stopping and looking at addresses or staring at street signs) may make you look like an easy target for crime. If you do get lost, find an open business and ask for directions.
• Only carry with you the cash you will need, and only small denominations.
• If older children go off separately, be sure they understand the importance of keeping track of time and returning promptly at appointed hours.
Hotel and motel security
Staying overnight at a hotel or motel, remember the following:
• Determine the most direct route to and from your room, to the fire escapes, elevators and nearest phone.
• When occupying or leaving your room, use all auxiliary locking devices on doors and windows. (You may want to purchase a portable door lock for traveling.)
• Use the door viewer to identify anyone requesting entry. Open the door only if you are certain the person has a legitimate reason to enter your room. If in doubt, call the hotel/motel office.
• Unpack and place belongings in the closet and dresser. Arrange your things so you’ll know if anything is missing.
• Consider locking any electrical appliances (blow dryers, electrical shavers, etc.) in your luggage. Suitcases should always be locked so they cannot be used to carry your property out of your room.
• Never leave money, checks, credit cards or car keys in the room. Take them with you.
• Place extra cash, expensive jewelry or other valuables (furs, gems, gold, or silver) in the hotel/motel safe.
• Report any lost or stolen items to the hotel/motel management and to the police.
• Report to the management any suspicious movements in the corridors or rooms.

Remember– the only way to stop crime is to get involved in crime prevention.


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).

THE 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.

LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER
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.
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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)

CRIME SUMMARY
On 02/15/2013 at 1:23 am A man decided to break into a vehicle – Unaware that there was a witness in the area. The attentive witness followed the thief while notifying police. Police arrived and detained the thief – who was carrying an arsenal of tools (commonly found on people who habitually break into vehicles). In addition to breaking into the vehicle, the suspect also had an outstanding warrant, and was booked.

On 02/15/2013 at 5:15 pm A male and female were loitering around several vehicles inside of a parking garage located on the 400 block of Stockton Street. A security guard working for the parking garage observed that the male had access to all of the vehicles. Thinking that the man looked suspicious, the security guard called the police. Officer Reyes and Officer Randolph responded, and detained the male and female. When they ran the vehicles, they discovered that they had all been reported stolen. The suspects were arrested for being in possession of the stolen vehicles.

On 02/15/2013 at 4:15am A transient man decided to break into 752 Stockton Street, which is an apartment building. He was loitering around the hallways, making a significant amount of noise when a resident heard him and called the police. When police arrived, they found the man, who willingly admitted that he did not live there. He was cited for trespassing.

On 02/16/2013 at 7:10am Officers responded to the Marriott Hotel at 500 Post Street regarding a man sleeping in the storage area of the hotel. The man was immediately located and stated that he was not a guest. The man was cited for trespassing.

On 02/16/2013 1:32 pm Officer Payne responded to a coffee shop near Union Square regarding a man trying to start a fight with the manager. Officer Payne detained the suspect, and discovered that he had an outstanding warrant. The suspect was immediately booked.

On 02/17/2013 at 2:10am Many officers were on Broadway Street attempting to subdue a group of intoxicated, aggressive people. One officer was standing near the crowd when a male walked up behind him and bashed him on the back of the head. The male tried to run away, but the officer was able to turn around in time to see who it was –and chase him down. The suspect was booked on a felony battery.

On 02/17/2013 at 19:50 pm A man and woman decided to have an expensive meal at Players Sports Bar at Pier 39. After they enjoyed their food, they decided to leave the restaurant without paying. A man in the restaurant saw the suspects leaving without paying and followed them until police arrived. Both suspects were cited for their crime.

On 02/17/2013 at 10:45 pm A transient man decided to take a nap in the doorway of the Waterfront Restaurant at Pier 7. The restaurant was still opened. A responding officer confronted the man, and discovered that he had an outstanding warrant, and was arrested.

On 02/18/2013 at 1:15 am Officers responded to the Jack in the Box at 400 Geary Street regarding a man sleeping inside of the restaurant. Officers found the man, and also found that he had an outstanding warrant. He was immediately arrested.

On 02/19/2013 at 8:28 am Officer Callo, Officer Manning, and Officer Santana responded to the Hyatt Hotel at 50 Drumm Street regarding a fight. When they arrived, hotel security was holding down a man on the sidewalk. The man had been warned 3 times in the past two weeks to not trespass at the Hyatt, came in one last time and assaulted a security guard. The man was detained by police and cited for his crimes.

On 02/19/2013 at 5:39pm Undercover officers observed a man standing on Bay Street and Midway Street – an area that suffers a high volume of auto burglaries. The man was peering into vehicle windows. The officers set up surveillance on the man. Officers watched as the man smashed the window of the vehicle, took a backpack out of the car, then begin to walk away. The officers immediately detained the man. On him, they discovered a spark plug (commonly used to break windows) and heroin. The man was immediately booked.