CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Captain’s Message
As I am writing this week’s newsletter most of us are mourning the 49er Superbowl loss. Even though we lost, the Niners almost pulled off the biggest comeback in Superbowl history. The silver lining was the crowds in the City and the Central District were very well behaved. There were no major incidents of serious crime during and after the Superbowl.

This past weekend also saw a very peaceful and crowded Flower Fair in Chinatown. Approximately 120,000 people jammed into Grant Ave and adjoining streets to celebrate the upcoming year of the Snake.

Yesterday was the last day on the job for Motorcycle Officer Chuck Simpson who served 34 years with the S.F.P.D. Chuck is one of the hardest working officers I ever met. He was mainly responsible for traffic enforcement but he handled all types of crimes. Last weekend he arrested two suspects on Broadway and recovered two stolen handguns. With Chuck’s recent retirement, the Central District will not have a motorcycle traffic unit.

Officer Stuart Ng, the Chinatown Beatman, retired the same day after 35 years. He was very dedicated grew up in the neighborhood and often came to work on his own time if there were community events in Chinatown. Stuart already misses the job and may come back and volunteer as a reserve officer for the S.F.P.D.

On Friday, Officer Greg Brandolino will retire after 31 years. His car sector covers the Financial District. I wish these fine police officers the best in their retirements and semi-retirements.

This week’s top arrest goes to Officers Willie Pon and Hector Garcia Morales who work the midnight shift at Central Station. On Friday night at approximately 10:15pm they responded to Leavenworth and Bay regarding a suspicious person inside a silver Honda Accord vehicle. Officer Pon approached the car and interviewed the suspect while Officer Garcia Morales looked into the vehicle and saw a black gun case in the rear driver’s seat. Further investigation revealed two handguns, 70 rounds of ammo, and a ski mask. There was also literature on building a car bomb. Great arrest guys!

This Sunday is Chinese New Year’s, and for the next two weeks Chinatown will be celebrating the year of the snake. I wish everyone a safe, prosperous “Year of the Snake”. See you at the parade (Feb. 23). I have to plan for it now.


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.

SFPD Taser Pilot Program:
There is one final community meeting covering the issue of police officers carrying tasers. The meeting will take place on Feb. 11 at the Bayview Opera House at 4705 Third St at 6:00pm.

Upcoming Events
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
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 (HTTP://SFRECPARK.ORG/CALENDAR.ASPX)

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.

If you would like SFMTA staff to come
to your neighborhood group, please contact
us at tep@sfmta.com or call 701-4453.
Starting July 1, Muni will impose several preapproved fare increases that will affect the transit-riding public. The monthly pass fares (including BART service within The City) will be hiked from $70 to $72, a hike based on annual inflation rates. Similarly, the $60 monthly pass (which doesn’t include BART service) will go up to $62. The cost of riding the cable car increases from $5 to $6.

Monthly Muni passes for disabled, youth and senior passengers will go up by $1, as will the monthly Lifeline passes, which are available for low-income residents.

Transit riders won’t be the only ones feeling the pinch on July 1. Residential parking permit fees are rising from $98 to $100.

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.

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)

RSVP to sffdnert@sfgov.org or call 415-970-2024 to register. For more details CLICK HERE

CRIME SUMMARY
On 01/30/3013 at 9:30 pm A woman parked her vehicle on Sacramento Street and Taylor Street. When she returned to her vehicle on 02/02/2013 at 9:45 am she discovered that her vehicle had been broken into. A laptop and coat were taken. No suspect has been identified.

On 02/01/2013 at 2:00pm Officers observed a man in the intersection of Union Street and Stockton Street “tap-dancing” on a piece of plywood. The man was blocking traffic. Officers detained him – discovering that he was intoxicated, and had some outstanding warrants. He was booked.

On 02/01/2013 at 3:14 pm Two rowdy passengers were on a MUNI coach near Columbus Street and Chestnut Street. They were yelling, and throwing trash around. After several complaints from passengers, the bus drivers asked the two to quiet down. When they refused, the bus driver asked them to get off of the bus. On their way off, one of the rude riders assaulted the driver – punching her several times in the face. Fortunately, officers arrived in time to detain the assailant – who was subsequently booked for the assault. The bus driver was shaken, but uninjured.

On 02/02/2013 at 12:01 am Officers stopped a man for skateboarding in the middle of the street on Columbus Avenue and Pacific Street. The officers discovered that the skateboarder had a warrant, and booked him.

On 02/02/2013 at 12:07am Officers stopped a man who was riding his bike on the sidewalk on the 100 block of Post Street. A standard computer check revealed that the man was on probation, with the condition of having to consent to warrantless searches. Officers searched the man and discovered methamphetamine in his pocket. The man was booked.

On 02/02/2013 at 12:48am Security guards at Pier 39 closed the facility for the night, and noticed that a man was still loitering around. When they asked him to leave, the man became aggressive and started spitting at the security guards. Officers responded and detained the non-compliant man, who was cited for his actions.

On 02/02/2013 at 3:45 pm A man was released from St. Francis Hospital. When he refused to leave, and became aggressive with hospital staff, the police were called. The police attempted to escort the man out, and the man attempted to assault an officer before fleeing the scene. After a short foot pursuit, the man was caught and transported to Central Police Station. During a search, narcotics paraphernalia were also found on the man.

On 02/03/2013 at 11:20 am An Officer was parked on the 100 Block of Columbus avenue when he observed a man park in a handicapped zone. The man hung a disabled placard from his rearview mirror, hop out of his car, and stroll effortlessly down Columbus Street. The annoyed officer stopped the man, asking if the disabled placard was his, and the man replied that it was his fathers. When asked, the man said that his father was not with him.

On 02/03/2013 at 11:45am A woman parked her vehicle in a public garage located at 2210 Stockton Street. When she returned to her vehicle at 1:50pm she discovered that a window had been smashed out of her vehicle, and two suitcases were missing. We have not identified a suspect in this case.

On 02/04/2013 at 2:45pm A man walked into Loehmann’s Department Store on Sutter Street. A security guard saw the man, on camera, walk into the accessory department, and place four watches into his vest pocket. When the man began to exit Loehmann’s the security guard detained him and recovered that watches. Responding officers discovered that the suspect had previous convictions for theft – allowing the officers to book the suspect on the new charges.

On 02/04/2013 at 5:30 pm Plainclothes officers were in the area of Leavenworth Street and Lombard Street searching for auto burglars. The officers saw two suspects whom they have previously arrested for breaking into vehicles. The suspects were slowing circling the area – seemingly peering into car windows. The pulled their vehicle up next to a Toyota, and officers lost visuals on what the suspects were doing. A few minutes later, the suspect vehicle pulled away, and officers saw that a window on the Toyota was smashed. Officers stopped the suspects, locating property from the vehicle theft that they had just committed. Both suspects were booked immediately.

On 02/04/2013 at 10:45 pm Officers responded to Leavenworth Street and Post Street regarding a suspect possibly casing vehicles. Officers detained a man who fit the description of the suspect. Though the man didn’t have any stolen property on him, he had five arrest warrants. He was taken into custody.

On 02/05/2013 at 9:35 pm A female decided to go have a delicious steak, and some drinks, at the Farllon restaurant – without paying. A frustrated restaurant employee followed the suspect out of the restaurant and maintained site of her until police arrived. Although the restaurant did not want to press charges, the woman was intoxicated, so she was booked.

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Central Station Resource List Number
EMERGENCY: 911
Non-Emergency: 553-0123
Cell phone 911: 553-8090
Customer Service Center: 311
Central Station: 315-2400
Captain Garret Tom 315-2480
Captain’s E-mail Garret.Tom@sfgov.org

Anonymous Tip-Line 575-4444
S.A.F.E 553-1984
S.A.F.E Website: www.sfsafe.com

SFPD Tip Line 575-4444 Text a Tip: 847411 (Tip 411)
Graffiti Abatement 278-9456
Graffiti Fax 278-9456
Central Events: 315-2440 - Sergeant Philip Pera
Central Permits: 315-2423 - Officer Steve Matthias
Code Abatement: 315-2417 - Sgt. Alex Takaoka
Deputy City Attorney: 554-3820 - Jill Cannon
Dept. Parking & Traffic: 553-1943
DPW. 695-2020 – Dispatch
Homeless Issues: 315-2400 - Officers Cathy Daly & Eric Caracciolo
Chinatown Beat: 315-2400 - Officers Howard Chu & Sam Yuen - Night Watch/Officers. Leon Sorhondo & Stewart Ng-Day Watch
Union Square Beat: 315-2400 - Officers Carl Payne & Tom Cunnane
Fisherman’s Wharf Beat: 315-2400 - Officers Bob Merino & Randy Ly
North Beach: 315-2400 - Officers Fred Crisp, Peter McGlaughlin - Day Watch/Officers Mark Alvarez & John Torrise Night Watch
Community Liaison: 421-6443x16 - Tel-Hi - Danika Choe
Web: www.sfgov.org/police