CBS 5: San Francisco Crime Rate Drops 12%

The crime rate in San Francisco has dropped 12 percent so far this year, according to new statistics released Monday by the police department.

Police Captain Albert Pardini reeled off the new stats to the Supervisors' Committee Monday: rape down 9 percent, robbery 23 percent, homicide 57 percent, motor vehicle theft 17 percent, arson 7 percent -- with a total overall reduction of 12 percent. He credited zone policing and the success of the police department in arresting suspects in a number of serial burglaries around the city.

Whatever the reason, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi who represents residents in the high crime area of the Western Addition was ready to tip his hat.

"It's good to be at this place where we're seeing such progress on many levels in the City and County," Mirkirimi said. "I think the police department is doing a solid job."

The big story continues to be the major reduction in homicides in San Francisco. There were 20 murders as of June 6, 2009 -- compared to 47 during the same period last year.

Full article.

Don't Bank on It

Central Station Update - Captain James Dudley
4/27/09, 9 AM - Yesterday, a bank was robbed on the 200 block of Montgomery Street. Officer John Ferrando responded, took the report and coordinated with the Robbery Detail and communications. The 40 year old male suspect was tracked onto Muni rail and arrested across the City within an hour. It was a great piece of coordination, determination and anticipation.

Excellent Communication, Cooperation Between Units Nets Robbery Arrests

Taraval Station Update - Captain Paul Chignell
4/7/09, 6 PM - At Crespi and 7th, a man was confronted by a gun-wielding suspect demanding his money. The victim resisted and the suspect ran to a waiting getaway car driven by a second suspect. The victim used his cell phone to call the police. The description of the suspects’ red Chevrolet was broadcast throughout the city by Taraval officers. A similar robbery occurred, with the same suspects, at Herman and Fillmore, a half hour later. Sergeant Anthony Damato, of the Tactical Division, spotted the car at Ashbury and Hayes, stopped the vehicle, and took two suspects into custody. The victim from Crespi and 19th identified one of the suspects as the robber. These suspects may be linked to a series of armed robberies.

Outstanding Work Takes Serial Robbers Off Streets

Taraval Station Update - Captain Paul Chignell
4/4/09, 7:15 AM - A woman was walking in the area of Holloway and Denslowe, when three men exited a red Volkswagen, assaulted her and drove away with her purse. Officers Darwin Naval and James Drilon, responding to the incident, recognized the suspects’ description from an earlier robbery in the Ingleside in which a woman had been attacked after she left an ATM. The officers took the suspects’ and vehicle’s descriptions and tended to the victim, who had been injured in the attack. A few minutes later, Officers Francis Feliciano and Orit Samson spotted the vehicle and three suspects travelling in the area of 19th and Winston. The officers conducted a high risk felony stop and detained the suspects. They then located an independent witness, who described the event in detail. Upon further investigation, officers discovered that a third robbery had occurred earlier in the area of 23rd and Noe. In that case, the victim had been hit over the head with a tire iron and robbed. A firearm had also been displayed by one of the suspects in that case. The suspects were identified and property from the three victims was discovered in the getaway vehicle. All three suspects live in the Richmond and each was arrested on three counts of robbery and conspiracy. This was outstanding work by Taraval police officers, removing three predatory robbers from the streets.

Citywide Crime Profile

Part 1 Crimes Summary Through 3/30.*

Violent Crimes	YTD 2008	YTD 2009		% Chg
Homicide	28	11		-61%
Rape	50	38		-24%
Robbery	912	750		-18%
Aggravated Assault	533	421		-21%
Property Crimes
Arson	61	49		-20%
Burglary	1,256	1,145		-9%
Other Larceny	3,020	2,580		-15%
Auto Boosting	3,250	2,262		-30%
Motor Vehicle Theft	1,550	1,274		-18%
Violent Crimes Total	1,523	1,220		-20%
Property Crimes Total	9,137	7,310		-20%
Combined Total	10,660	8,530		-20%

*For both years, the above crime statistics are through 3/30, with the exception of Rape and Robbery, which are through 3/28.

Robbery Arrests in Mission District Evidence Exceptional Policework

Mission Station Update - Captain Steve Tacchini

Excerpted from Weekly Newsletter - 2/20/09

Over the last couple of weeks, there have been several street robberies in the Mission District. In response, the officers of Mission Station have made some outstanding arrests. It’s important to remember that one or two suspects, for any single incident, may be responsible for multiple previous incidents. This is particularly the case with robberies. Because of this, a single robbery arrest can significantly reduce the incidence of future robberies. I am confident that this is the case with these arrests.

One recent case, in particular, stands out. Two suspects robbed two victims, demanding their valuables at shotgun-point. The suspects fled, but after officers responded, the victims observed the suspects on a different block. A separate set of officers secured the area and began a slow, methodical search of the block. One officer noticed a woman looking out her front window and sensed that something was wrong from the way she was looking at him. He knocked on her door and quietly asked if everything was alright. She responded by shaking her head and motioning toward the back of her house. The officers quickly entered the house, finding one of the suspects sitting in the living room. The suspect was taken into custody without incident, though he had warned the woman not to say anything to the police when they knocked on her door.

In this case, the suspect easily could have escaped but for the alert and perceptive officer who followed his instincts and pursued things just a little further. Even more important was the woman’s courage – looking out the window, making eye contact with the officer and, through non-verbal means, conveying a sense of fear and urgency.

This is just one example of the excellent work done on a daily basis by the officers of Mission Station. I am very proud of the work they do and you should be too!

-Captain Steve Tacchini

SFPD Make Arrest in Gas Station Robbery

San Francisco Police arrested one of two suspects in a recent armed gas station robbery. The robbery occurred on 1/25/09, on Junipero Serra Boulevard (Taraval District), at approximately 11:30 PM. The suspect is an Oakland resident.

SFPD inspectors identified the suspect within 72 hours and a $500,000 felony warrant was issued for his arrest. The suspect was located at a residence on Garfield Street, on 1/31/09. Police also located a handgun in the residence.

The second suspect remains at large. The detained suspect is charged with robbery and remains in custody.

Armed Robbery of Gas Station

Bayview Station Update - Captain John Loftus
1/27/09, 6:17 PM - Officers McArthur and Borgen responded to a call for service involving an armed robbery at a local gas station. The victim, an employee, stated that there were two suspects, and that they had forced him into the garage, threatening to shoot him, prior to emptying the register and fleeing the scene. The victim provided a detailed description of the suspects, which was broadcast to those officers saturating the area. Sergeant Hagan and Officers Lyons, Kirchner and Coleman, all members of Bayview Station’s Cease-Fire Team, located the suspects, who matched the employee's description, and who were subsequently identified by the employee as the perpetrators. Further investigation determined that the two had been arrested previously for possession of a firearm, stemming from a 2008 incident.

Community Policing and Zone Strategy Driving Successes in Tenderloin

The Examiner reported today on how a combination of increased community engagement and the targeted deployment of resources has succeeded in both solving and reducing crime in the Tenderloin.

Murders dropped from nine in 2007 to four last year. Robbery dropped 9 percent, and aggravated assault plummeted nearly 14 percent (…)

Tenderloin Police Station Capt. Gary Jimenez, who briefed neighborhood residents and The City’s Police Commission last week, said each of the murders were solved because of the focus on community policing. While entire neighborhoods in San Francisco have been intimidated into silence, Tenderloin residents feel more comfortable sharing information with police because they know and trust them (…)

Jimenez also attributed some of the success to the citywide “zone” strategy, where the police presence is concentrated in San Francisco’s most violent neighborhood. Tenderloin officers have also cracked down on quality-of-life offenses, increasing their narcotics arrests by 22 percent from 2007 to 2008 and disorderly conduct arrests by nearly 184 percent.

Arrests Made in Noe Valley Attempted Robbery

Ingleside Station Update - Captain Denis O’Leary
1/22/09, 8:15 pm - A Noe Valley man was surrounded by three male teenagers who demanded his backpack. He refused to comply and one of the teens produced a handgun and threatened him. One of the teens then punched the man in the face, at which point he ran from them. The suspects fled empty-handed and the police were called. While Officer Androvich interviewed the victim, the man pointed out the suspects as they passed by inside a MUNI LRV. Sergeant Kim, assisted by other officers, stopped the train and detained the four suspects. A replica handgun was found near one of them. The victim identified the suspects as his assailants and three of the four were arrested for attempted robbery. The three alleged perpetrators were aged 16, 15 and 15. All three were turned over to probation officers at the Juvenile Justice Center.

Gas Station Robbery Suspect Captured in Unrelated Traffic Stop

Taraval Station Update - Captain Paul Chignell
11/29/08, 5:50 AM - A man walked up to the service counter of the Shell Gas Station at 19th and Taraval with a white plastic bag over his head. The man produced a gun from his waistband and demanded money. The employee complied and got down on the ground as ordered by the gunman. The suspect fled the premises but the employee followed him and saw that he got into a black car heading south on 19th Avenue. Officers Allan Wong and Adrian Payne stopped a black car for violating a stop sign rule at 20th and Vicente seconds later but before the robbery broadcast came over the police radio. As they were about to cite the driver for the stop sign violation, they heard the broadcast and took the suspect out of the vehicle at gunpoint. In the vehicle was the plastic bag, money from the station and a gun. The victim positively identified the suspect as the robber. The suspect was arrested for burglary, robbery, false imprisonment and, of course, a stop sign violation.