tagged w/ SFPD - Central Station
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
October 27, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments
A week ago we teamed up with Southern Station and the Traffic Company to accommodate the movement of President Obama’s visit to San Francisco. It was somewhat challenging a few thousand demonstrators and supporters crowding the Eastern side of Union Square.
This past week we also facilitated the former Prime Minister of Israel speaking at the World Affairs Council. The Central Station planning crew of Sgt. John Colla, Officers Scott Gaines, Mark Milligan and Dante Giovanelli did a great job of placing barricades, personnel and protection around the venue. This time, although we had a much smaller showing of protesters outside, several individuals made their way into the event and caused enough of a disturbance to be removed and arrested. Twenty two individuals were arrested for disturbing the appearance.
Other events in the district included two Chinatown events with the Hep-B-Free Public Health campaign dinner, to bring hepatitis testing and treatment awareness to the Asian Community. This weekend, District Attorney Kamala Harris chaired a safety event in Portsmouth Square.
At Fisherman’s Wharf, Central Station Officers represented the station well in the annual Northern California Special Olympics fund raiser, the Cable Car Pull Event. Officers Dante Giovanelli, Rene Nielsen, Glenn Brakel, Derrick August and Matt Sullivan represented the station well. The team pulled cable cars across an area against teams from the SFPD and SFFD as well. SFPD Teams finished this year 1-2 and 3, with Bayview and Ingleside teams finishing at the top. Several officers also participated in the polar plunge into the bay at Aquatic Park as well.
This past Sunday I ran with former Captains Kevin Dillon and Dan Lawson and current Captain Denis O’Leary of the Narcotics and Vice Division, Captain Dave Lazar of Ingleside, Captain Teri Barrett of Park Station and another hundred or so brave individuals to raise funds for SAFE in their 5K Run and Walk for SAFEty! It was inspirational to see expecting Executive Director Cindy Brandon running the route as well. It was a lot of fun for a great cause. Mark your calendars for these annual events and come out next year!
Changes at Central Station
We wish the best to Lieutenant Lynette Hogue in her too early retirement after a good run in many assignments in the SFPD. At Central, she saved the best for last.
Also soon to be leaving are newly appointed Sergeants Scott Gaines, our hard to replace Permit Officer and Nelson Artiga, Night Watch Specialist. In two weeks, I too will be joining them in a move to our Field Operations HQ at the Hall of Justice. Your new Captain at Central Station will be Anna Brown, a smart, capable and experienced member of the department for over 30 years.
Community Policing is all about sharing the load with the community in which we serve and this community in the Central District has made it easy to address crime issues here. With that in mind, the new Central District Community Advisory Board will convene its first meeting in November. We’ll list all the members in a future issue, but for now, I can say we have concerned community and business people from across the district willing to serve, bring up issues of concern, problems to solve and ways to make our district better. Members are expected to report back to their neighborhoods and get ideas from their local communities as well for future discussions.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
October 27, 2009
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
October 13, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments
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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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
September 22, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments
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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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
September 8, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments
September is National Preparedness Month - 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!)
Personally, I remember seeing my house shaking and carrying out my two sons into the street, away from glass and structures. I remember how useful it was having a small portable battery powered TV and radio to hear the reports. Candles and flashlights were a big help as well. Some residents were without power, water and sewer for a week. 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.
The Police Commission Meeting in the district last week was a good one. Check out the replays on sfgovtv. Unfortunately, Chief Gascon was called to Washington DC and could not attend. The Chief heard about how he was missed and another Commission Meeting has been scheduled for the end of this month. Details to follow.
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.
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.
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.
Broadway Corridor
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Friday September 4, 2009
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Felony Arrests 0
Misdemeanor Arrests 1
Drunk Related Arrests 0
Moving Citations 35
Parking Citations 8
Vehicles Towed 5
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Saturday September 5, 2009
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Felony Arrests 0
Misdemeanor Arrests 1
Drunk Related Arrests 1
Moving Citations 39
Parking Citations 9
Vehicles Towed 9
==================================Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
September 8, 2009
“Arm... more
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
September 1, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
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.
Broadway Corridor
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Friday August 28, 2009
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Felony Arrests 0
Misdemeanor Arrests 7
Drunk Related Arrests 3
Moving Citations 34
Parking Citations 18
Vehicles Towed 13
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Saturday August 29, 2009
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Felony Arrests 0
Misdemeanor Arrests 5
Drunk Related Arrests 1
Moving Citations 56
Parking Citations 13
Vehicles Towed 14
==================================Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
September 1, 2009
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
August 18, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
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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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
August 11, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
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.
Broadway Corridor
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Friday August 7, 2009
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Felony Arrests 2
Misdemeanor Arrests 3
Drunk Related Arrests 4
Moving Citations 45
Parking Citations 18
Vehicles Towed 13
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Saturday August 8, 2009
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Felony Arrests 0
Misdemeanor Arrests 3
Drunk Related Arrests 2
Moving Citations 48
Parking Citations 12
Vehicles Towed 12
==================================Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
August 11, 2009
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
July 28, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
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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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
July 21, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
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
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
July 14, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
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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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
July 7, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments;
This will be the last newsletter by me for a few weeks. Lt. Rich Pate will be Acting Captain until July 13 when I return. If you miss a newsletter, try checking www.thebarbarycoastnews.com for current and archived police reports.
The Forth of July event at Fisherman’s Wharf tuned out to be a great night. Except for a few arrests for disorderly conduct, everything went smooth. The officers assigned to the event did an outstanding job with pedestrian and traffic control. There were well over 500,000 in attendance. A special thanks to DPT, Fire, Paramedics, Marine Unit, Police Dispatch, Coast Guard and all who helped with this event.
I would also like to acknowledge the hard work in putting this event together by Sgt. John Colla and his staff. There is an enormous amount of pre-planning for an event of this magnitude. Sgt Colla and his staff did an outstanding job.
Captain Dudley will return next week. This is the first time I have been an Acting Captain for two weeks. I have learned there is a lot of time spent with correspondence
with the community and the Command Staff. I have enjoyed the past two weeks and look forward to working with all of you in the future.
Lt Rich Pate
Broadway Corridor
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Friday July 3, 2009
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Felony Arrests 0
Misdemeanor Arrests 2
Drunk Related Arrests 1
Moving Citations 24
Parking Citations 4
Vehicles Towed 4
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Saturday July 4, 2009
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Felony Arrests 0
Misdemeanor Arrests 1
Drunk Related Arrests 1
Moving Citations 26
Parking Citations 16
Vehicles Towed 13
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The Solo Motorcycle Violence Reduction Unit accounted for 2 DUI arrests in addition to their moving citations.
SAFE stands for Safety Awareness For Everyone and it is a valuable crime prevention organization. Grab and Run Shoplifters have been active of late, especially near our retail areas of the district. Plainclothes officers have made good arrests at locations where patterns of the thefts have occurred. Merchants can help yourselves by being alert, greeting patrons and by checking out the SAFE website for tips on loss prevention. SAFE can also do a security survey and report on businesses and homes. Check them out at http://www.sfsafe.org .
Reward! Check out the www.sfgov.org/police website for rewards for Homicide information, Graffiti information and when giving tips on illegal guns in San Francisco. Rewards are enumerated from $250 for Graffiti to $1,000 for guns to and up to $10,000 or more for information leading to the arrest on some homicides.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
July 7, 2009
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Footage from a news story about SF enforcement of loud motorcycles, this video very clearly lists health effects of loud motorcycles and attributes this information to the SF Health Dept.Footage from a news story about SF enforcement of loud motorcycles, this video very... more
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 30, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments
My name is Lieutenant Richard Pate and I will be the Acting Captain until James Dudley returns in July 13th, 2009. I have been assigned to the night watch at Central Station since October 2008. I have been in the department since 1981, and I have to admit this is near the top of my list of stations that I have been assigned to. I hope this newsletter will provide you with the same information that Captain Dudley has sent you.
We are gearing up for the Forth of July festivities in the District. It appears there will be two venues, one at Aquatic Park and the other location is Jefferson St, from Hyde to Pier 39.
The Marine Unit will escort the barges with the fire works out to the bay where it is safe. The Command Post will be located at Jefferson / Taylor. The event is free and open to the public. It is advised that you take public transportation due to gridlock in the area. If you decide to drive your vehicle, do not leave valuables in your vehicle that are visible. Also, dress warm, because it will get very cold later in the night. Enjoy your self and have fun. One more note, alcohol consumption in public is not permitted and will be enforced by the officers assigned to the event.
Police Commission Meeting in the Central District-Postponed
Due to construction conflicts, the Police Commission in the Central District has been postponed for a future date. The Commission will hold their regular meeting June 24th at City Hall.
Broadway Corridor
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Friday June 26, 2009
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Felony Arrests 0
Misdemeanor Arrests 2
Drunk Related Arrests 7
Moving Citations 32
Parking Citations 19
Vehicles Towed 11
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Saturday June 27, 2009
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Felony Arrests 1
Misdemeanor Arrests 2
Drunk Related Arrests 1
Moving Citations 25
Parking Citations 8
Vehicles Towed 8
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Crimes of Note:
6/22/09 7:30 AM Washington / Grant Marijuana Sales/ Fireworks Poss.
Officers Chris Del Gandio and Travis Pitcher were on routine patrol when they effected a traffic stop on a vehicle for a loud exhaust system. As Officer Del Gandio approached the vehicle, he smelled a strong odor of marijuana. There were three occupants in the vehicle. After the driver admitted they were smoking marijuana, the officers took the occupants out of the vehicle. The driver told the officers there was some ‘small’ amount of marijuana in a white box behind the driver’s seat. When the officers opened the box, there were 18 baggies containing marijuana. The officers also located fireworks and a pellet gun in the vehicle. All three occupants were booked for possession for sale of marijuana; the driver was booked for possession of a pellet gun and fireworks.
6/23/09 12:28 PM Post/ Leavenworth Theft/ Locked Vehicle
Officers Benito Manning and Cathy Daly were driving their patrol vehicle when they were stopped by a citizen who had just witnessed an auto break-in. The officers asked the witness to help search for the suspect. The officers were driving on Geary St when the witness, who was in the patrol car said ‘that’s him over there’. The officers detained the suspect. A screwdriver was located in his jacket. The officers also learned that the suspect was on active parole. The suspect was booked on theft and a parole violation.
6/23/09 3:07 PM 700 Block of Montgomery Weapon Possession
Officer Mary Godfrey responded to the above location on a report of a male with a gun in his waistband. When she entered the premise, a retired LA Sheriff advised her that he had taken the gun away from the subject. The gun was a semi-automatic handgun fully loaded. The subject did not possess a permit for the gun and was cited.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 30, 2009
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 23, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments
This will be the last newsletter by me for a few weeks. Lt. Rich Pate will be Acting Captain until July 13 when I return. If you miss a newsletter, try checking www.thebarbarycoastnews.com for current and archived police reports.
Last week we gave a fond farewell to Day Watch Lieutenant Harry Pearson, who retired after 32 years of valued service to the City and County of San Francisco. I met Harry while we were both patrolmen at Northern Station in 1980 when the station operated out of an old school at 841 Ellis. Harry was and always has been a “cops’ cop.” He was always making good arrests and sharing knowledge with other officers. I recalled at his retirement luncheon of the time in about 1982 when my partner and I stopped a suspect in the Northern District holding a small bag of what looked like soap chips. After consultation with Harry, our resident Narcotics expert, it was determined that the substance was a new type of drug that we were hearing about called “crack cocaine.” Soon afterwards it became prevalent around the country. It’s just one of so many examples where Harry lent his expertise and experience to newer officers in crime fighting. Harry worked several years at the Narcotics Bureau as an officer, a sergeant and as a lieutenant until coming to Central Station a year ago. We are all better by knowing him.
Congratulations to Night Watch Sergeant Robert Harwood, who was honored by MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers on June 18, 2009. It’s no wonder, since Sgt. Harwood is known for his expertise in DUI recognition and arrests. Sgt. Harwood has been sharing his knowledge with the night watch officers and the response has been well received. The next DUI Checkpoint Operation will be done by the Traffic Company in the district on July 3, 2009.
Police Commission Meeting in the Central District-Postponed
Due to construction conflicts, the Police Commission in the Central District has been postponed for a future date. The Commission will hold their regular meeting June 24th at City Hall.
REMINDER- Message from the Chief regarding proposed cuts to Public Safety
Budget Hearings resume on Monday, June 22 at 5:00 PM, in the Board Chambers, City Hall Rm. 250. SPECIAL ORDER - 5:00 P.M. –Public Comment for the 2009/2010 Annual Budget
SF Pride Celebration will take place next weekend, June 27th and June 28th. People from all over the world come to this event to celebrate. The festivities take place at Civic Center from Noon to 6pm on Saturday and Noon to 7pm on Sunday. Sunday is also the day of the big parade. The parade kicks off at 10:30am at Market and Beale and ends at Market and 8th. For more information on the festivities and parade route, go to www.sfpride.org.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 23, 2009
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 18, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments
Police Commission Meeting in the Central District-Postponed Due to construction conflicts, the Police Commission in the Central District has been postponed for a future date. The Commission will hold their regular meeting June 24th at City Hall.
This past weekend at the North Beach Festival, several thousands of people landed in North Beach for the festivities. The weather was good and the local economy seemed to be stimulated. Central Station was abuzz both days with a steady stream of prisoners and detainees as well. Dozens were cited and several booked for various indiscretions, mostly alcohol based. Dozens of individuals outside of approved drinking areas were asked to return to those venues or to discard the open containers. Many individuals remained in the party spirit and readily complied with our requests, several others were not so compliant.
It can be sometimes frustrating for officers assigned to the festivals. Dealing with individuals who already have a few libations on board are less cooperative than sober individuals. There are varying degrees of cooperation. I asked one young woman to hand me the bottle of wine that she was drinking from. She denied having any such bottle that she still held in one hand, while talking on a cell phone with the other hand. I persisted and attempted to seize the bottle which she then plunged into her purse. The young lady attempted to run into the crowd and began screaming when I took her by the arm. After the exchange, I took the uncooperative woman into custody and attempted to walk her across the street to the rear entry of Central Station. At that point, the exchange grew even more surreal when we were soon surrounded by 20 or so naked individuals on bicycles in the street at Green and Columbus. One half hour later I sat in the station writing the report for a minor in possession of alcohol. I am sure there were several similar interactions between officers and individuals this weekend. In all, I estimate that officers wrote over a dozen tickets and asked several other dozens to dispose of open alcoholic beverages in public. Most people did as requested.
This week I will send out letters to a half dozen business who were not helpful by overcrowding their venues, hosting “mini-beer gardens”, blasting music into the street and in one case, a liquor store sold red plastic cups with each purchase. Many other businesses were helpful and cooperative, helping us keep order. I will be thanking them as well.
Related activity: 6/13/09 at 7:30 PM, Columbus and Greenwich. A 30 year old woman told officers that she had been drinking during the day and was leaving a bar when 2 men approached and put their arms around her. At the same time, a white van pulled up and two other men attempted to pull her into the sliding door cargo area. A passerby broke up the assault and said he was her boyfriend to stop the men. The men fled in the white van. The woman was unharmed.
6/13/09 at 5:45 PM on the 600 block of Green Street. A woman inside a house party said she was approached by an unknown male. The 28 year old white male from Redwood City became angry at being rebuffed and attempted to choke and knock down the woman. A group of men at the party heard the commotion and subdued the suspect who fled into a neighboring parking lot when police arrived and took him into custody. Both the male and female were treated for various injuries at the scene.
6/13/09 2 PM and 4 PM, two minors in possession of alcohol were cited near Union and Cadell and Green and Columbus.
6/13/09 6 PM 500 block of Green Street Bar Fight - Officers responded inside a bar and stopped a fight between patrons and management. Two men from SF and Brisbane were booked for drunk in public.Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 18, 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
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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 12, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments
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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Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 3, 2009
“Arm yourself….with knowledge!”
Captain’s Comments
June is a month of street fairs, demonstrations and protests in the Central District. Many schools let out and thus, we’ll see many more kids of all ages out and about during the daytime hours. Be aware and use your defensive driving skills during commute hours and during your day when children are on the streets.
If you have children, take some time to go over traffic rules while as a pedestrian and on bicycles, skate boards, scooters and other modes of transportation. Give the old bike a once over and tighten screws, bolts and chains. I had a rude awakening when, during the last leg of a very long bike ride, a cog popped off of my rear derailleur. A simple check of my bike would have saved me a long walk with an otherwise perfectly good bike. Don’t forget to always wear a helmet and clothes that will not get caught in wheels, chains or drive trains.
Go over public transportation safety rules as well. Be aware of surroundings and when in doubt or if a situation becomes scary, have them sit as close as possible to the driver. Horseplay near rail transportation is never a good idea, whether on Muni Metro, BART or Cal Train.
“Collect Your Prize!” Scam
Over the past week, 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.
Broadway Corridor
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Friday May 29, 2009
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Felony Arrests 0
Misdemeanor Arrests 3
Drunk Related Arrests 3
Moving Citations 30
Parking Citations 24
Vehicles Towed 16
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Saturday May 30, 2009
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Felony Arrests 1
Misdemeanor Arrests 3
Drunk Related Arrests 3
Moving Citations 26
Parking Citations 16
Vehicles Towed 7
==================================Central District Newsletter
Captain James I. Dudley
June 3, 2009
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Beginning Yesterday, Saturday, May 29th, 2009, The San Francisco Police will crack down on vehicles with modified mufflers including motorcycles that revving their motors scaring tourists, children and inhabitants in the City of San Francisco. Let me tell you that I have been waiting for this Civil and Government initiative for long time and I Thank God it finally arrived. This is the beginning of a work to clean up the noise and the carbon foot print of polluters that can care less about anyone by themselves. It seems that the people are getting the message and it is time to take our Cities back. We need to have more tourists visiting our City and we cannot jeopardize their impression of our City by letting the polluters dominate the turf. Here it is my footage of the Police interview and announcement.Beginning Yesterday, Saturday, May 29th, 2009, The San Francisco Police will crack... more
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