Central District Newsletter - June 10, 2008
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Central District Newsletter;
Captain James I. Dudley;
June 10, 2008;
Captain’s Comments
The Broken Windows Theory, (revisited). By now, as an avid reader of this newsletter, you are aware of the James Q. Wilson and George Kelling paper on addressing crime at its lowest level to have impact on larger, more serious crime and disorder. The theory is simple, this is my liberal interpretation:
They looked at a large abandoned building in an industrial section of a city and shortly after it was evacuated, it was still intact. Soon, passing kids knocked out a window or two and the allure was too much for others. In a short time, after testing the waters and seeing that no one objected, all the windows were broken out. The area soon became a dumping ground. The authors surmised that if you keep an area well kept and showed that there was care and concern for it, others would respect that and were reticent to disrespect it.
Recently, one of our best beat officers was threatened with a complaint by a citizen and a government official. The man was told by the beat officer not to rummage around in a City trash can. The man protested that he was collecting cans and bottles for recycling. Area residents and merchants long complained that such “dumpster diving” was creating a mess in the area. Some had gone extra lengths by bringing in cans early and by putting locks and cables on private trash cans. We did a little research and found that the beat officer was 100% correct in his enforcement. The City has a contract with local recyclers at homes, businesses and even City sidewalk trash receptacles. They alone have authority to collect the materials. It may seem like a small thing, but we have had streets, corners and alleys become a nightmare of trash and garbage from just such activity.
Example two in the Broken Windows Theory is our long fight against crime and bad behavior in the Broadway area. I would estimate 90% or better of the businesses in the area operate on a good neighbor system of keeping their establishments clean, well lit and under good management. One of the biggest complaints from businesses under our scrutiny is: “It’s not our fault, it’s these roaming bands of guys who hang out on our streets and in front of our clubs that cause all the trouble.” When we looked at the overall picture of the problems in the area, we used the SARA model of Problem Solving. We Scanned the problems, Analyzed the data, Responded with enforcement operations and strategies and we continue to Assess the situation. We know for certain that despite continued police enforcement, the problem will not clear up unless it is followed up with a consequence of some kind. For that, we need help from the District Attorney, ABC and Entertainment Commission.
Captain James I. Dudley;
June 10, 2008;
Captain’s Comments
The Broken Windows Theory, (revisited). By now, as an avid reader of this newsletter, you are aware of the James Q. Wilson and George Kelling paper on addressing crime at its lowest level to have impact on larger, more serious crime and disorder. The theory is simple, this is my liberal interpretation:
They looked at a large abandoned building in an industrial section of a city and shortly after it was evacuated, it was still intact. Soon, passing kids knocked out a window or two and the allure was too much for others. In a short time, after testing the waters and seeing that no one objected, all the windows were broken out. The area soon became a dumping ground. The authors surmised that if you keep an area well kept and showed that there was care and concern for it, others would respect that and were reticent to disrespect it.
Recently, one of our best beat officers was threatened with a complaint by a citizen and a government official. The man was told by the beat officer not to rummage around in a City trash can. The man protested that he was collecting cans and bottles for recycling. Area residents and merchants long complained that such “dumpster diving” was creating a mess in the area. Some had gone extra lengths by bringing in cans early and by putting locks and cables on private trash cans. We did a little research and found that the beat officer was 100% correct in his enforcement. The City has a contract with local recyclers at homes, businesses and even City sidewalk trash receptacles. They alone have authority to collect the materials. It may seem like a small thing, but we have had streets, corners and alleys become a nightmare of trash and garbage from just such activity.
Example two in the Broken Windows Theory is our long fight against crime and bad behavior in the Broadway area. I would estimate 90% or better of the businesses in the area operate on a good neighbor system of keeping their establishments clean, well lit and under good management. One of the biggest complaints from businesses under our scrutiny is: “It’s not our fault, it’s these roaming bands of guys who hang out on our streets and in front of our clubs that cause all the trouble.” When we looked at the overall picture of the problems in the area, we used the SARA model of Problem Solving. We Scanned the problems, Analyzed the data, Responded with enforcement operations and strategies and we continue to Assess the situation. We know for certain that despite continued police enforcement, the problem will not clear up unless it is followed up with a consequence of some kind. For that, we need help from the District Attorney, ABC and Entertainment Commission.
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Part Two, Continuing...
We looked at the most common complaints: excessive noise, drunken behavior, traffic related problems with cars and pedestrians, assaults, drinking in public, and loitering bands of teens and early individuals in their 20’s usually males, who “hung out.” Officers found that the individuals said that they were waiting for friends to meet them or to get off work from a nearby location. They also observed them buying alcohol from area liquor stores and consuming on the street. Some loitered in front of clubs or bars that played music so loud, that it was like having the entertainment outside without the cover charge.
Our enforcement strategies addressed all levels, both inside venues and out on the street. On the three blocks of Broadway proper, there is a capacity for three to five thousand people in bars, clubs and restaurants. Sometimes the officers are out numbered by 100-1 or more. We have had varying degrees of success that ebbs and flows. Serious cases are followed up by the District Attorney. We have had good success in following up assault and robbery cases. Traffic can sometimes be overwhelming but the officers have several strategies in dealing with them. It is not easy and not everyone is happy with the towing zones, STOP and Operation Impact programs, diversions or restrictions.
In dealing from the bottom up, we will be changing things up a bit. We will begin a renewed effort in noise abatement and venue overcrowding, which surely contributes to the problems. Public drinking and inebriation enforcement is still a priority. We have a burden to provide a nexus between unlawful activity and a location in following up on cases. To that end, I will ask the Entertainment Commission to make distinctive hand-stamps mandatory. We will track and bundle incidents and take them to the Entertainment Commission or the ABC for action. We are fully aware that the police alone cannot be change agents and we need the help of neighborhood and merchant groups and other City agencies who can help.
The theory can be applied to almost any problem. It works often and the problems diminish greatly or go away. Let us know when we can help with a long term problem in your neighborhood.
Broadway Corridor
Friday June 6, 2008: Saturday June 7, 2008:
Felony arrests made 0 Felony arrests 0
Misdemeanor arrests made 2 Misdemeanor arrests made 1
Drunk related arrests made 2 Drunk related arrests made 1
Moving citations 17 Moving citations 20
Parking citations issued 14 Parking citations issued 8
Towed vehicles 8 Towed vehicles 7
Traffic Company Enforcement: 19 Moving citations, 2 arrests, 1 towed vehicle
6/6/08- An individual reported that on 5/29/08 at 12:30 AM he left a club at Columbus and Broadway to get his car at Romolo Alley when he was robbed by 3 black male suspects. -
Part Three, Continuing...
6/6/08 at 1:45 PM, a dancer at an adult club on Broadway said that a customer argued with her after giving her a $100 tip and subsequently took it back and ran from the club.
6/7/08 at 2 AM, a man reported having too much to drink while celebrating the Democratic Presidential nomination announcement. He fell asleep on the 600 block of Broadway and awoke at 0330 AM to find his wallet missing.
6/7/08 at 1:15 AM on the 700 block of Broadway, an individual was arrested for throwing a glass against a wall inside a bar. The suspect claimed that a woman broke a bottle over his head while waiting to use the restroom, explaining his behavior.
6/8/08 12:40 AM, 400 block of Broadway, a woman claimed that she was pushing her way through a crowd in a club when another woman described as a 24 year old Asian woman, hit her in the head with a bottle.
Crimes of Note
On 6/5/08 at 5 PM, a woman at Front and Sacramento Streets observed a 55 year old white male transient punch another man in the face and threaten him with scissors. When she shouted to intervene, the suspect chased after her with the scissors overhead. She called 911 and followed the suspect until a unit arrived to make the arrest.
6/5/08 at 2 PM, at 200 block of Beach Street, Officer Severo Flores responded on a call of three black females breaking into a parked car. An employee of a nearby hotel followed the suspects as they boarded a MUNI trolley car until police arrived to make the detention. Three 14 year old juveniles were taken to the Community Assessment and Referral Center after burglary tools and evidence was located.
6/6/08 at 11:30 PM, a man reported that two 18-22 year old Hispanic males brandished a gun and demanded money from him at Sansome and Lombard. The suspects demanded his wallet and fled on foot to Montgomery where they got into a dark, two door vehicle.
6/6/08 just after midnight on the 800 block of Geary Street, Officer Rene Nielsen arrested a Fremont woman for prostitution.
On 6/8/08 Sgt. Mark Hernandez led a team of Officers along the Geary Street corridor to address complaints of narcotics sales and activity. The Officers included Officer Angel Lozano, Rene Nielsen and Matt Sullivan. A flurry of arrests were made:
10:30 PM- Hyde and O’Farrell- Sales of base rock cocaine. 33 year old white male suspect wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and shorts; SF address.
12:40 AM- 800 block of Geary Street- possession of base rock cocaine. 22 year old white female suspect, wearing blue jacket and blue jeans, no local address.
1:30 AM- 500 block of Sacramento- Attempted Burglary of a restaurant- 51 year old black male suspect-camouflage jump suit; no local address. On Felony Probation.
2:00 AM on the 800 block of Geary- Base rock cocaine for sale- 23 year old Hispanic male suspect wearing a brown hoody, blue jeans.
4:00 AM, 1400 block of California- 22 year old female from Fresno, CA arrested for prostitution. -
Part Four, Continuing...
Central Station Resource List
EMERGENCY: 911
Non-Emergency: 553-0123
Cell phone 911: 553-8090
Customer Service Center: 311
Central Station: 315-2400
Web: www.sfgov.org/police
Captain James I. Dudley 315-2480 james.dudley@sfgov.org
Anonymous Tip-Line 392-2623 SAFE 553-1984
Graffiti Abatement 278-9454
Graffiti Fax 278-9456 .
Central Events: 315-2440 Sergeant John Colla
Central Permits: 315-2423 Officer Fred Crisp
Code Abatement: 315-2417 Sgt. Mark Hernandez
Deputy City Attorney: 554-3820 Jill Cannon
Dept. Parking & Traffic: 553-1943
DPW: 695-2020 Dispatch
Quality of Life Liaison: 315-2400 Officer Kim Koltzoff
Homeless Issues: 315-2400 Off. Jay Shastri or Cathy Daly
Chinatown Beat: 315-2400 Off. Leon Sorhondo & Stewart Ng- Days
Sam Yuen- Nights
Union Square Beat: 315-2400 Officer Carl Payne & Tom Cunnane- Days
Officers Scott Korte, Ed Carew- Nights
Wharf Beat: 315-2400 Officer Nick Rainsford and Bob Merino
North Beach 315-2400 Officer Mark Alvarez & Mike Kangrga
Community Liaison: 421-6443 x37 Tel-Hi- Kelly Komasa
Megan’s Law Website Access:
The general public can find out information on sexual predators on line by going to the DOJ website: www.meganslaw.ca.gov or at the SFPD link at www.sfgov.org/police. You may check specific names or zip codes to locate those listed in the database.
Join the SFPD: www.sfgov.org/police
Join the SFPD Citizen’s Academy: Call Lula Magellon at 415-401-4720
Call 3-1-1/TTY: 415-701-2323. If outside of San Francisco, call 415-701-2311/TTY: 415-701-2323 to reach any of the following: Abandoned Vehicles----DPT Dispatch -----DPW Street Cleaning-----Graffiti Hotline--Mobile Assistance Patrol (MAP)-----Pothole Repair----Street Signs (missing/damaged)---Street Lighting -
I believe that San Francisco is lucky to have someone like you....stopnoise......creation and destruction.....why do all the creative people have to spend all their time trying to counter balance the destructive ones?......should we try to wake up others....or just let them sleep.......well....stopnoise....I am like you .......I must try to wake them up.....hoping it will help......more times than not...as soon as they are awake...they bite me...........Golden Ruler.........Richard
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- HITLERS_MOUSTACHE
- 2 months ago
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You could say it's just stemming the tide of Entropy.
Unless energy is put back into the system then it will denerate into chaos
That's little more generalized than "The Broken Windows" theory but it applies to more situations -
stopnoise, sanfran is so lucky to have you...I hope they appreciate all that you do for them...Thanks for this and all your dedicated posts...you are your own private army against the injustice of irresponsibility, etc...
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- PlatoTacius
- 2 months ago
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very interesting story
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good pod. i've always heard...document.document.document...good job
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