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).
If you read my comments about the stolen property belonging to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, then you probably know by now that his property was recovered and returned to him. The saga reminds me to remind you to mark your property! We have a limited number of engravers here at Central that you may borrow to use to mark property with your drivers’ license number. Electronics should be marked, from laptops and cameras to iPods to GPS units and any other portable equipment. Mark your bicycles under the frame. With luggage, briefcases, camera cases, golf bag and other equipment, it would be a good idea to also use a luggage tag or mark your name and drivers’ license number on them as well. In cell phones and iPods you should highlight personal information in case the item turns up to police. Complete the owner information and ICE info, (In Case of Emergency).
Halloween Safety Tips:
Costumes should fit correctly so kids won't trip on them. Wear light-colored costumes to be seen at night.
Kids should not try to Trick or Treat by themselves. They should go with an adult and a group of friends.
Map out where you and your friends will be going. Visit only the well-lighted houses.
Try to Trick-or-Treat while it is still light out; always bring a flashlight, it may get dark. Wear a reflective costume or stickers.
Pick well-lighted streets. Walk on the sidewalks. Do not take shortcuts or alleys!
Only accept candy at a person's front door. Do not go inside of a house or into someone's car.
Have a back-up plan in case you get separated from your group. Carry a cell phone, walkie-talkie or money for a pay phone, and the number of a trusted adult.
Don't eat any candy until you get home. Have an adult check to make sure there are no tricks in your treats! If there is any suspicious candy, contact your local police station.
October is National Crime Prevention Month
This is a perfect time to take the extra steps in practicing safety awareness by learning more about crime prevention and the steps you can take to make yourself, your family and your property safer. If you don't already have a Neighborhood Watch group on your block, now is the time to start one! Call SAFE at 553-1984 to get organized!Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
October 20, 2009
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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. There were very few incidents and arrests related to festivities.
On Monday, it was brought to my attention that the Mayor of Sacramento posted a note on his blog that he had been “robbed” of personal items near Union Square. Looking at the incident, as described, a few things should be known. First, to my knowledge, no police report has been made. If you are the victim of any crime, you should immediately report it to police. Oftentimes, police encounter individuals on the street with what appears to be stolen property or suspicious circumstances where one individual is in possession of property of questionable origin. Our own guidelines prohibit officers from making an arrest without a victim. Officers sometimes detain an individual and release them if no one can claim property as theirs and not that of the person who was caught with it. At the very least, make a report as soon as possible, at a police station, by phone or even by the Internet. It helps us track where and when crime is occurring and what property has been taken.
Secondly, as we have discussed in this newsletter, a robbery is the taking of something from one person from another by force or fear. As described, this was a case of a theft of opportunity, of an unattended bag or bags of personal property. There are individuals out there, especially in crowded areas where they can blend in or “hide in plain sight” who will take advantage of property that is not guarded or otherwise under a watchful eye. Be aware of your surroundings, especially with the shopping season upon us. Be aware of crowded spaces like public transit, in stores, restaurants and elevators. If taking public transportation or a taxi, try to remember the vehicle number in case of lost property.
TV’s ‘Trauma’ will be shooting around North Beach this week.
October is National Crime Prevention Month
This is a perfect time to take the extra steps in practicing safety awareness by learning more about crime prevention and the steps you can take to make yourself, your family and your property safer. If you don't already have a Neighborhood Watch group on your block, now is the time to start one! Call SAFE at 553-1984 to get organized!
Halloween Safety Tips:
Costumes should fit correctly so kids won't trip on them. Wear light-colored costumes to be seen at night. Kids should not try to Trick or Treat by themselves. They should go with an adult and a group of friends.
Map out where you and your friends will be going. Visit only the well-lighted houses.
Try to Trick-or-Treat while it is still light out; always bring a flashlight, it may get dark. Wear a reflective costume or stickers. Pick well-lighted streets. Walk on the sidewalks. Do not take shortcuts or alleys! Only accept candy at a person's front door. Do not go inside of a house or into someone's car.
Have a back-up plan in case you get separated from your group. Carry a cell phone, walkie-talkie or money for a pay phone, and the number of a trusted adult.
Don't eat any candy until you get home. Have an adult check to make sure there are no tricks in your treats! If there is any suspicious candy, contact your local police station.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
October 13, 2009
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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.
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.
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!)
Remember all the possibilities and make a plan with evacuation, re-unification, sustainability with supplies of food, water, batteries, light and extra cash and medications. If you do nothing else, take a look at the listed websites and sign up to be a NERT, (SFFD’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Training). Visit sites like www.72hours.org or www.bayarea-redcross.org , www.sfgov.org/police, www.sfgov.org/fire for information and trainings.
NERT Training Available:
WHO: Everyone!!!
WHAT: Disaster Preparedness Training
WHEN: Two Day Intensive! 8:30am – 5:30pm Mondays September 21 AND 28*
WHERE: Radisson Hotel, 250 Beach @ Mason
HOW: RSVP to sffdnert@sfgov.org or call 415-970-2024 to register. Visit www.sfgov.org/sffdnert to see more about the training, locations, and register on line.
WHY: Hurricane Katrina has shown us the need to get prepared. You are vital to the
recovery of the City after a disaster!!!
* Please note that it is very important for participants to attend all sessions in order to
gain the full scope and benefit of the training.
Make-ups may be approved. A certificate will be issued.
TRAINING COURSE OUTLINE Sessions day 1: Sept. 21
-1 Earthquake Awareness, Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation
-2 Basic Disaster Skills; Fire Extinguishers; Hazardous Materials; Utilities Shut-offs
-3 Disaster Medicine Sessions Day 2: Sept 28
-4 Light Search and Rescue
-5 Team Organization and Management Terrorism & NERT
-6 Hands-On Training Skills Development and Application
Winterize for safety! Winter is coming, along with the shorter days and earlier onset of darkness. Now is a good time to check battery supplies at home, bicycle and vehicle headlights and windshield wiper blades, tires and brakes. If you jog in the early darkness or at dusk, use a lighted arm or leg reflector light, wear a reflective vest and avoid head phones or ear buds. Overall, be aware of your surroundings, run or bike with a buddy and be active in well lighted areas.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
September 22, 2009
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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.
Events- September brings more events, many in Chinatown with the coming of the Autumn Moon Festival September 19 & 20, and the SF Italian Athletic Club Festival also on September 19. September in the City will have many events that will affect traffic and staffing levels.
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 950 Clay at Stockton Street. 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.
Bay Bridge 2009 Labor Day Weekend Closure Reminder
As previously reported, the Bay Bridge will be closed over the Labor Day Weekend starting at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3rd to 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8th. You may visit www.BayBridgeInfo.org for important closure details.
Text a Tip- Community Policing is successful only when the community is actively involved and engaged in crime prevention in their neighborhoods. Calls to police may be made in a variety of ways, some anonymously. You can call to report a crime, or even text through a mobile phone at: Text: 847411, call: 575-4444 or at Central’s tip line: 392-2623.
Pickpockets have been active along Muni lines in the district and have been especially active on lines in Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf. Remember some of our crime prevention tips: Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t be afraid to turn around and look at people who may be ‘bumping into you’ or pressing against you. Keep wallets in front pants pockets. Keep purses, backpacks and packages on your lap or held in front of you. Take off earphones while travelling in close quarters in crowds. A rubber band or two around your wallet keeps pickpockets from easily slipping it from your pocket.
‘Trauma’ Filming for the television series will continue in the district with helicopters, cops, firemen and other actors with guns, hoses and pyrotechnics. Do not be alarmed and look for the cameras and other equipment before calling 911.
The monthly Police Community Meeting is held the third Thursday of each month at the Tel-Hi Community Room at 660 Lombard at 6 PM. The meeting generally runs 1-1.5 hours. Have your say in the community.
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.
Giant board games on Russian Hill? Tomorrow, the squiggly part of Lombard will be converted into that game we all loved as kids; “Candy land” of course. The filming will begin at 4 AM and will last most of the sunlit portion of the day. Avoid the area and traffic delays.
Trauma- Filming for the television series will continue in the district with helicopters, cops, firemen and other actors with guns, hoses and pyrotechnics. Do not be alarmed and look for the cameras and other equipment before calling 911. The scene is the emergency response to a large fire in a restaurant. There will be filming at a Chinese restaurant on Washington Street. A street closure of Washington b/w Kearny St. & Grant Ave., Walter Lum Pl. b/w Washington St. & Clay St., Wentworth Pl. b/w Jackson St. & Washington St. will be in effect from 7 AM - 9 PM on Tuesday August 18th and Wednesday August 19th. Pedestrians will have access to all sidewalks and businesses within the closure. For safety reasons, pedestrians may delayed access to portions of the sidewalk for up to 5 minutes at a time.
Please note that not only will there be the usual emergency vehicles on location but there will also be smoke effects being utilized intermittently each day between the hours of 7a and 7p. The SFFD has approved the use of these effects and will be notifying the dispatch center and local fire houses of the use of smoke effects.
There will be signs clearly posted at the location to notify passersby that this is a television shoot and not a real incident. In addition, the production has notified all residents and businesses in the areas surrounding the filming.
There will be "No Stopping" signs posted to accommodate their equipment vehicles in the vicinity of the filming.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
August 18, 2009
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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. Thanks to co-sponsors, Tim Daniels and all the volunteers at Tel-Hi. Tim arranged for the food and BBQ, including hot dogs and drinks. Ben & Jerry’s supplied the ice cream. Thanks too, to Bonnie Cassenelli and Rec and Park for arranging the bocce courts. Cindy Brandon, ED of SAFE was on hand to play, mingle and supply coloring books and SAFE fliers on building Neighborhood Watch Groups. On hand to man the bbq’s were Officers Steve Matthias and Mark Milligan. Beat Officers Kevin Richins, Tom Costello, Mark Alvarez and John Torrise visited and played bocce and tutored several kids on the fine points of playing bocce. What about the hot dogs, you may ask? Tim Daniels told me that last year he supplied 50 hot dogs for the event and this year he doubled that amount and we ran out. It was great to see people from all over the district, from the very young to the not so very young, showing up to mingle and play bocce. The actual bocce games were cut short a little when several kids took over and bocce balls flew everywhere. Chalk art was encouraged in the open space adjoining the courts at Mason and Lombard and several kids participated. Next year, we will try to cater to the broad age range; sign up now for face painting, hoop toss and other kid friendly attractions.
The Auto Burglary Summit held last week at the Cannery was not well attended. With so many auto break-ins at garages and parking lots, we will continue to attempt to bring the management of these locations to the table. Recent stat sheets show that some locations have been hit 6-11 times in a 3 month period.
Trauma- Filming for the television series will continue in the district, at Bush and Sansome, with helicopters, cops, firemen and other actors with guns, hoses and pyrotechnics. Do not be alarmed and look for the cameras and other equipment before calling 911.
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:
• Be aware of your surroundings, especially in confined crowded spaces, such as on a bus, or waiting in line for food service or at a retail business.
• Carry cash in a separate pocket or money belt. Take only the cash, credit cards and identification that you will need for the day.
• For people who carry their wallet in the rear pants pocket; wrap a rubber band or two around the wallet like my old friend, Lt. Joe Garrity. Joe showed me once, that it is almost impossible to slip a wallet out of a pocket without noticing, since the rubber band always catches the fabric.
• When riding on a conveyance, sitting or standing, take your purse, backpack or bag and pull it around to your lap or across your chest.
• Make eye contact with others around you.
• If someone bumps into you, however slightly, turn in their direction. Resist social norms if you’d rather keep your wallet than embarrass someone.
• Be aware of the decoy. Sometimes two suspects will act in concert. One will bump you or stop short in front of you and as you are bustled, or try to avoid them, the second suspect will hit from behind you.
• Be aware of where to sit. On MUNI, sit near the driver when possible or on seats that face the walkway. Make a note to stay in the area of busses outfitted with cameras near the front of the bus.
If you do notice that you have fallen victim to a pickpocket, immediately call and cancel credit and debit cards to minimize the negative impact. If someone calls you later to arrange a meeting to return the stolen property, call police immediately.
SAFE Night Out! We hope to keep the “Bocce with Cops” night going this year at DiMaggio’s Playground Bocce Courts August 4th at 5 PM. Save the Date!
Thanks to the anonymous donor from Chinatown who donated $200 this week to the K-9 program in the East Bay. The woman read an article in the Chinese news and saw that some police dogs there could not be outfitted with protective vests due to budget constraints.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
July 28, 2009
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Captain’s Comments
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. I deflated faster than the tire itself when I realized I had no spare-spare and it was indeed a long walk home unless I could perfect riding a unicycle very quickly. It was at the time the final ‘woosh’ let out of the tire when another bicyclist pulled over in his car and offered assistance. “Neil” had obviously just finished his ride and saw that I was having some trouble. He offered a better bike pump and even had a spare tube, after I explained that I just mauled my spare. He helped me change the tire and explained that he sold the Topeak Road Morph, a mini version of a floor pump. I thanked him for his help and promised to buy one.
Later that afternoon, none the worse for wear from my abbreviated ride, I went out and indeed bought the pump. I learned several things from the experience. PLAN. At SWAT we always had a PACE Plan:Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency. Just like your home or office emergency plan, always have a back-up plan as well. In cases where additional planning may be needed, have a back up plan to your back up plan. For instance, I always take duct-tape camping. It can solve most problems with tears or breakage. On trips or long hikes, always let someone know your route, timeline and itinerary. It can be especially important to have back up medication or a prescription with you on trips. When commuting or going for an afternoon bike ride, I always have a spare tire and tools with me. As a contingent plan, I have my cell phone with me. AAA just started a program where they will give rides to broken down cyclists in addition to auto needs.
Finally, there is a time when you should accept help from strangers. I usually warn readers about this one, but there are times when one should accept help and conversely there are times when you should offer help as well. My advice remains to use good judgment, especially at night and in secluded areas. Sometimes you can offer help by using a cell phone to call for help for the stranded motorist or bicyclist. In the end, try to be your own best resource and plan ahead. With that in mind, recall Robert Burns: “The best laid schemes of mice and men, often go awry” and hope for the good Samaritan.
SAFE Night Out! We hope to keep the “Bocce with Cops” night going this year at DiMaggio’s Playground Bocce Courts August 4th at 5 PM. Save the Date!
Thanks to the anonymous donor from Chinatown who donated $200 this week to the K-9 program in the East Bay. The woman read an article in the Chinese news and saw that some police dogs there could not be outfitted with protective vests due to budget constraints.
The Annual Chinese Rec Center Basketball Tournament was a good time had by all. Lt. Al Yee of the Honda Unit of our Tactical Division arranged another basketball game between 16-18 year olds from the RecCenter and Officers from Central Station on July 15th. Despite a strong showing by Al, Officers Rod Tong, Tom Costello, Mike Costello and Scott Korte, it was youth who prevailed. Old timers along with me were Sgt. Steve Roche, Lt. Mike Biel, and Lt. Jim Calonico. There is a photo of the team attached. Unless oxygen is provided at future games, this may have been my last one.
Crime Trend in Chinatown
The “River Rock Burglar” is back at it in Chinatown. Over the past two weeks we have experienced up to 5 burglaries in Chinatown. The MO has been the same as in prevCentral District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
July 21, 2009
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A proposed ordinance aimed at quieting loud motorcycles passed the city's Public Safety Committee Tuesday and will now be considered by the full city council.
By Casey Conley
ReporterA proposed ordinance aimed at quieting loud motorcycles passed the city's Public... more
Captain’s Comments
It’s great to be back in San Francisco!
I had the good fortune to have spent the past two weeks travelling in our great State of Alaska. What a great experience. If you haven’t been, I would encourage you to take the trip north and see the last American Frontier. While there I visited Anchorage, Fairbanks, Denali, Juneau, Skagway, Petersburg, Sitka and Ketchikan, as well as the great glaciers of Glacier Bay. Wild life was abundant and the fishing was unbelievable. Not much crime in the back country, at the fishing streams or on the cruising ships.
Policing of most of the towns was unlike what we do here, in “the lower 48.” Some towns had only 4-5 sworn officers, including the Chief, but that was to police populations of under 1,000. In Juneau, several dozens of police officers lined the July 3rd parade route. It also happened to be the 50th Anniversary of their statehood. The locals do enjoy their Independence Day celebration and many also celebrated the resignation of their Governor as well, which seemed a bit perplexing to me. I was told by some officers that many of the jurisdictions supplement their force in the summer months when harvesting and canning of salmon is in full swing and that many of their calls of violent incidents are usually alcohol fueled.
Thanks to Lt. Rich Pate for assuming duties here while I was gone. I understand things went very well. See below for the Crimes of Note he submitted for the past week. It was disturbing to see that there was a shooting on Broadway Thursday night inside a club. Two individuals suffered non- life threatening gunshot wounds. I have asked the Entertainment Commission to hold a hearing to examining the clubs promotions, business plan and security plan. Hopefully we will put an end to dangerous and preventable situations.
The Central Station Community Meeting is this Thursday July 16th at 6 PM at 660 Lombard, the Tel-Hi Community Room, please join us. Don’t worry, if the crowd is unruly, I can always break out a slideshow of my vacation!
SAFE Night Out! We hope to keep the “Bocce with Cops” night going this year at DiMaggio’s Playground Bocce Courts August 4th at 5 PM. Save the Date!
Happy Bastille Day! Look for several celebrations and street closures around the district. Traffic should not be impacted significantly.
Crime Trend in Chinatown
The “River Rock Burglar” is back at it in Chinatown. Over the past two weeks we have experienced up to 5 burglaries in Chinatown. The MO has been the same as in previous years. The suspect takes a cobblestone or river rock and breaks a store window and makes off with cash or merchandise. The latest hit was for a tray of computer equipment on 6/13/09 from a store on the 500 block of Washington. It has been frustrating to experience the same type of burglary over the years. We have caught the suspect twice and he was most recently released from prison on parole on July 3rd, about the time when we started experiencing the burglaries again. Plainclothes officers from Central Station are investigating and searching for the suspect. The suspect is described as a 48 year old white male, 6’, 190 pounds, blue eyes and grey and brown hair. He was released by parole and listed “homeless” as his address. In the past he was found to be sleeping in local SRO hotels and parks.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
July 14, 2009
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LORAIN — The summery peace and quiet at Lexington Avenue and West 24th Street were broken yesterday afternoon when a Lorain police car was struck by a motorist, sending the police officer to the hospital.
Inattention appears to have contributed to a young woman crashing into the police car, according to a witness. Steve Wallace was painting panels on the driveway at 2358 Lexington Ave. to install in the front porch ceiling when a loud car stereo caused him to look up about 4 p.m.
By SCOT ALLYNLORAIN — The summery peace and quiet at Lexington Avenue and West 24th Street were... more
This coming weekend is the North Beach Festival from Columbus and Grant to Washington Square Park, Saturday and Sunday from 10AM-6 PM.
Police Commission Meeting in the Central District
The SFPD Police Commission, Chief Fong and the Command Staff will convene the Police Commission meeting on June 24, 2009 at 6 PM in the Central District at the Portsmouth Square Community Room at Washington and Kearny Streets. There will be limited parking, so please use public transportation. There will be a review of the district, police operations and a chance to ask questions or comment to the Chief or Commission.
Someone asked me last week, after reading my last newsletter, if it really made sense to arrest people in possession of marijuana. The answer is not so simple, except to say that the “Compassionate Marijuana Use Law” was meant for medicinal marijuana use. In the case reported here, three young men were in the enterprise of obtaining the product, packaging it for individual sale on the street, in Chinatown, undoubtedly to youngsters or anyone else with the cash to make a purchase. Last year, then Central Station Lieutenant Dave Smith made a car stop of an individual near the Broadway Tunnel with several pounds of marijuana and a handgun. Despite this and a similar arrest in another part of town with dope and a gun, the suspect was involved in a fatal shooting of a hostage and himself in a neighboring county. Have no doubt, serious crime has been associated to the illegal marijuana industry.
When the topic comes up, two issues are always mentioned. “Isn’t marijuana legal in San Francisco?” The short answer is no. California voters approved medicinal marijuana to be in possession of those also in possession of a medical marijuana card issued by the Department of Public Health. In San Francisco, we went a step further with legislation stating that “Marijuana enforcement is the lowest priority of the SFPD.” That said, marijuana arrests continue to be made and rightfully so. Although we don’t have officers actually out looking to make marijuana arrests, sometimes the offenses approach us. Twice in the past weeks, for instance, suspects have approached undercover officers to sell them “weed” on the street. In a case last year, Lt. Al Yee and I were removing campers from Pioneer Park at Coit Tower when the suspect opened his pouch of several bags of marijuana while pulling out identification. The second issue relates to “successful” marijuana legalization in Europe. Several years ago I did a paper on Amsterdam’s marijuana ‘coffee shops’ and their decline and associated crime issues. In my opinion, they are far from successful. There are several such studies on the Net and if you are interested, I suggest you take a look at them.
“Collect Your Prize!” Scam Over the past several weeks, we have heard from several individuals who say they have been contacted to put money up front to collect a prize at a public place later on in the week. Several people were conned into doing just that. Remember to be wary of the something for nothing schemes and even the something for something schemes. All of the fraudulent trick and device ‘cons’ have something in common: they look to exploit individuals hopeful to win or otherwise get something free or for little return. Hang up on telemarketers and shred and toss unsolicited similar mail as well.
Graffiti vandals have scarred North Beach and Chinatown recently. Please call 911 if you see acts of graffiti or other vandalism in progress. Use 311 to report the mess to get it cleaned up asap. There is a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals of up to $250.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 12, 2009
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I learned a lot about epidemiology sine 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:
SCAN-What is the overall problem? Can it be identified and narrowed?
ANALYZE- What are all the contributing factors? Are their commonalities to the problem? Here is where we look at everything; CrimeMaps, Police Reports, Evidence, Statements, Computer Generated Calls for Service, etc.
RESPOND-This is the fun part, the action plan. It is where we apply resources to the problem. As I always say, the Police are only one component to good problem solving. Community Policing is really Community Problem Solving, take that a step further and it is good Community and City Government Problem Solving. That is, involving all agencies that have a stake in the crime or problem or who can help solve it. That can mean going all the way to changing legislation, getting help from state and local licensing boards or commissions. To handle something only from the Law Enforcement aspect is only deferring the problem.
ASSESS- Take a look at a timeline to addressing problems. There should be a 30 day period to apply the enforcement or action plan and fine tune it after that. Expect a spike in activity or reported cases. Adjust the plan if something is obviously out of whack. Take a look at the plan in 30-60-90 day intervals. If there is no good outcome, go back to the Analysis stage and take another look at what may be missing.
Officers on the street level are encouraged to think along these lines and are tasked to fill out a Problem Solving Worksheet when confronted with a chronic problem. At the management level we apply the same strategy by looking long term with licenses and permits, especially as they deal with alcohol and over-intensification in certain areas. Some strategies give instant results and some may not see benefits for months or even years after the fact.
Help us help you by calling us or at least by calling 311 to document nuisance issues in your neighborhood.
That said, there is hardly any defense against irrational acts of senselessness. That was the case on May 1, 2009 at 9:45 PM. It was of course, “Mayday” filled with protests, marches and celebrations of several movements. None of them could be attributed to the band of usual suspects described as young men and women, 20-30 years old, wearing all black clothing, including “hoodies” and some with masks or scarves across their faces. Several individuals, 30-50 in number ran along Geary and Grant Avenue, smashing windows as they ran. Several windows were smashed on various stores in the immediate area. Nothing was stolen. The message, if there was one, was to create vandalism, simply because they could. A website page forwarded to me touted their “Smashing Success in SF.” Such acts are cowardess and indeed senseless. Tools, wrenches, crowbars and pipes used in the barrage were booked as evidence and a follow up is being handled by investigators reviewing video tapeCentral District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
May 5, 2009
“Arm... more
A fake documentary about a fake terrorist turns all too real when the San Francisco Police Department is called in because of a bomb threat.A fake documentary about a fake terrorist turns all too real when the San Francisco... more
Did you know that in the city of San Francisco, CA there is at least 1000 register Sex Offenders living near you? In this website you can run a search by zip code in your area!
I was surprise to find out that in my building was one! and also one currently working at the "Beat Museum" at 540 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133
Also near my house!
It is your responsibility to make your community aware of this!Did you know that in the city of San Francisco, CA there is at least 1000 register Sex... more
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.
See some timely good words of advice and reminders from Cindy Brandon and SAFE:
Dear SAFE Friends & Supporters, In the wake of the Sandra Cantu tragedy in Tracy, it is a harsh reminder that we all need to exercise best practices and safety education with the children in our lives that we love and care for. It is unfortunate that an incident like this brings to light the importance of strong communication with children and instilling them with the knowledge of what to do in a situation that makes them uncomfortable and could potentially be dangerous. Parents, caregivers, and those that work with children should discuss and plan ways to be as safe as possible.
Child Safety Tips
Here are just a few tips for you and your kids:
• Keep open communication with your children. Discuss all types of safety with them.
• Allow kids to tell you what makes them fearful, and encourage them to communicate their feelings on being safe.
• Teach them how to recognize potentially dangerous situations; whether it's with someone they know, or someone they don't know.
• Always play or travel with a friend.
• Always tell an adult where you are going, even if it's just across the street to a friend's house.
• Sometimes it's okay to say “no” to an adult. Talk about the times when they need to listen to adults and when it’s appropriate to say “no”.
• Get to know your children’s friends and families.
• If a child is spending time at home alone, make rules for the house with the child’s help. Discuss the rules and the reasons for having each one in place.
• Talk about the difference between strangers and trusted adults with children. Encourage them to share with you when they are uncomfortable with the trusted adults.
• Children need to know which adults they can go to in case of an emergency (police officers, trusted neighbors, store owners, relatives, etc.).
• Go over some lures or tricks that dangerous adults may use:
-- Offer a ride in a vehicle
-- Offer candy, gifts, money, jobs, etc.
-- Request help
-- Use of threats/fear
-- Pretending to be a friend or trusted adult
-- Offer companionship
• If a child feels that he/she is in danger – YELL, RUN, and TELL!
-- YELL loudly to draw attention to yourself and the stranger
-- RUN to a safe place
-- TELL an adult what happened
More tips can be found on various child safety websites. SAFE offers a complete guide of Safety Tips for Children at scheduled presentations. For SAFE's Safety Tips for Kids at Home, click on the link below. You also visit our website, www.sfsafe.org for more safety tips.
SAFE offers customized Child Safety Presentations that cover a wide range of issues such as stranger danger, internet safety, bullying and street safety. Please call our office for more information or if you are interested in a presentation for your group, school or neighborhood. To inquire about SAFE's Child Safety Services, call Elly Mayen at (415) 553-1986, or email to elly@sfsafe.org .
Be SAFE,
--The Staff and Board of SAFECentral District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
April 21, 2009
“Arm... more
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:
• Emergency plans, including escape routes, provisions and reunification locations.
Start at home. Do you have flashlights that work around the house where you can get to them in the dark? In the event of a fire, earthquake or disaster, do you have an exit plan for various parts of your home? If you have kids or dependants, do you know how to keep them safe and know where to reunite after the initial emergency? Where do they go if you are at work and they are at school? Do you have enough food, water and cash to last a week? 72 hours used to be the standard time to prepare for, but more is better in some cases. Do you have family or neighbors with special needs who may require extra assistance to evacuate?
At Work, know your workplace emergency plans. Do not use elevators in most cases to evacuate. Do you have a flashlight and some provisions at your work station? Do you know where emergency first aid supplies are kept? At home or at work, breaking glass is a serious consideration. Consider safe areas to seek shelter at both locations.
• Back-up systems for emergency medical equipment, computers and other power based needs.
Ask professionals about back-up systems to emergency medical equipment and medications. In some cases you may need an emergency generator to go for longer periods than a back up battery can provide. Would the back up system need to be manually turned on or would they kick in at a power outage or surge? Keep important papers in a fire proof safe or better yet, off site. The same goes for back up files on your computer that you can archive on an off site hard drive.
• Provisional exit routes to doors, garages and elevators that would cease to operate with a major power failure.
Learn how things work now, rather than at the time of an emergency. Do you have a manual switch to open garage doors if the power goes out? Do you know how they operate? Look at any elevators in your building and investigate what to do if locked inside.
• Look to resources now, as you plan. Most would not be helpful, even if available, once the emergency strikes.
There are many resources to look at to help you prepare now. Look at websites for the American Red Cross, ( www.redcross.org), the San Francisco Police Department, ( www.sfgov.org/police) the San Francisco Fire Department, (www.sfgov.org/site/sfnert) the Department of Emergency Management, (www.72hours.org) and many others. Take a NERT class to get hands on training at the Fire Department’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Training.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
April 14, 2009
“Arm... more
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.
Thanks to everyone who called or wrote to pass along condolences or to offer support to law enforcement officers in general, and particularly to the families and co-workers of our brother Oakland Police Department Officers. Several people asked if there was a message to put out regarding interactions or contacts with police. Police Officers walk a fine line every day while plying our trade, and the Bay Area is probably the most scrutinized law enforcement community because of the harsh criticism by the usual detractors.
Officers are potentially in the line of fire every time they walk out of their police stations, regardless of the call for service. Vehicle stops are especially dangerous since each one is “like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." Not to make light of the situation, but as the officer approaches a vehicle, they don't know if they are dealing with an inexperienced driver, someone in a hurry, someone with a medical emergency or in some cases, an armed dangerous felon. Yet, with that said, we are expected to treat each approach the same, with the same amount of courtesy and respect. I have seen complaints against officers on traffic stops because they, in the perception of the driver, "had their hand on their gun." In some cases, a safe and defensive approach is called for. In all cases, a safe approach should be made until the nature of the driver can be determined.
You can help each time you interact with an officer by being clear and as articulate as possible. If you are at a call of service where violence or a weapon may be involved, consider the officer’s perspective. Keep your hands free of anything that could be construed of as a gun or weapon and explain your role at the soonest opportunity; such as: “I’m the one who called;” or “the threatening customer just left…” If you happen to be pulled over for a traffic violation, pull over to the right as soon as possible, as safely as you can. Do not dig around for insurance or registration paperwork until the officer requests them. Do not exit your vehicle and do not allow passengers to exit. Stay in your seat with your hands visible. The officer may then ask for your driver’s license, vehicle registration and your proof of insurance. Only then should you search for the documents. Most people already adhere to these protocols, but others still aren’t sure what their role should be. Bystanders or third parties, not involved in the interaction are not prohibited from watching but should not get involved, especially from the blind side of officers during the activity. Our main goal is to conduct business with safety in mind for everyone involved.
SFGOV Public Safety Blog
A new website about the SFPD is now up and running. The website includes information about the whole department and includes highlights and contact information for all ten district stations. The blog, launched by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, can be accessed at: www.SFPublicSafety.com
Current Crime Trends
Graffiti vandals have scarred North Beach and Chinatown of late. Please call 911 if you see acts of graffiti or other vandalism in progress. Use 311 to report the mess to get it cleaned up asap. There is a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals of up to $250.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
March 31, 2009
“Arm... more
Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
March 24, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
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.
Events:
St. Patrick’s Day festivities were well controlled with a few arrests made, mostly for public drunkenness. Many of the downtown locations started early and ended before midnight. By 2 AM the district was back to normal.
On March 25th plan to attend another Town Hall Meeting with Supervisor David Chiu and representatives from major City Departments such as Fire, Police, Health, DPT and Rec and Park. I will not be able to attend this month but come and meet one of our new Night Lieutenants Rich Pate of Victor Tsang. The meeting is 6PM-8PM at the Spring Valley Elementary School at 1451 Jackson Street between Hyde and Larkin.
On Saturday March 21st we facilitated the Anti-War Demonstration beginning at Justin Herman Plaza, along Market Street to Civic Center Plaza.
We’ve been given a ‘heads up’ regarding a “Flash Mob” gathering on March 25th “downtown” calling for “all Zombies!” That usually means that folks will text each other and show up wearing make up and torn clothes with fake blood and assorted limbs. If I knew exactly where and when they are to appear, I would tell you.
SFGOV Public Safety Blog
A new website about the SFPD is now up and running. The website includes information about the whole department and includes highlights and contact information for all ten district stations. The blog, launched by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, can be accessed at: www.SFPublicSafety.com
Current Crime Trends
Graffiti vandals have scarred North Beach and Chinatown of late. Please call 911 if you see acts of graffiti or other vandalism in progress. Use 311 to report the mess to get it cleaned up asap. There is a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals of up to $250.
Zero Graffiti for a Beautiful City! Save the date: 4/23/09 at 3 PM
Look for a coordinated community effort by DPW with the location to be announced. For details on all the ways that citizens can help, contact Merle Goldstone, Public
Information Officer with DPW. Her contact info: Merle.Goldstone@sfdpw.org Office 641-2625.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
March 24, 2009
“Arm... more
