Several crimes involving firearms have rocked our two neighborhoods in recent months. In response, a town hall public meeting was held on February 17.
The latest incident was a drive by shooting on Sunday, January 24 at 3:00 p.m., at the intersection of Chenery Street and Brompton Avenue. A young man had dropped his mother off on Bosworth Street, and was followed by men in another vehicle who then opened fire on him. The victim was taken to SFGH with non-life threatening wounds. The case is still under investigation, but no link to gang activity has been established.
In December a victim was shot on Diamond and Sussex Streets. It appeared to be a targeted attack.
Last July shots were fired on Wilder Street near Diamond. No one was injured.
[It was not mentioned at the meeting, but a neighbor just informed us that there were also gun shots on Bemis Street mid-morning on Monday, Jan 11, at the top of Mateo St. No one was injured, but several shell casings were found. A police report was filed. ~Ed.]Supervisor Mandelman and SFPD Ingleside Captain Chris Woon held a Zoom town hall on February 17 to inform the community of steps being taken to address public safety and respond to questions and concerns.
Dave Burke is the new District 8 safety liaison, working out of Supervisor Mandelman’s office. He can be reached at dave.burke@sfgov.org.
Captain Woon’s report:
- Captain Woon is leaving the Ingleside Station. His replacement is Nicole Jones. (Ed. note: There is a documentary that is streaming for free on pbs.org until March 9 called Women in Blue, which is an interesting look at women in police captain positions.) https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/women-in-blue/
- A gun intelligence unit is collaborating with ATF on street violence intervention and it holds weekly meetings.
- SFPD is using a data driven enforcement model, including uniform and plain clothes units. They’ve seized guns and arrested a carjacking suspect.
- Garage door burglaries and break-ins are the biggest increase in crime. SFPD has shared tips to protect garages in their newsletter. To subscribe: https://sfgov.org/policecommission/ingleside-newsletters
- Be aware of your surroundings, especially when parking, exiting businesses and banks.
- Report all suspicious activity to SFPD. Take photos if it can be done safely.
- Emergencies: 911
- Cell phone “911”: 415-553-8090
- Non-emergencies: 415-553-0123
- Neighborhood watch groups and phone trees are important.
Brian Bringardner’s report:
- The DA isn’t involved until an arrest is made. The DA then determines if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, unless they settle beforehand.
- The 9-digit report number is the key to every case. It will be on the police report and receipt you receive. Bringardner can found out the status of the case using the case number.
The Q&A produced the following information:
- Ingleside is divided into six sectors. Diamond Heights is sector 2. How often they patrol depends on what calls are coming in.
- There are signs at Diamond Heights to warn against leaving valuables in cars, and this has helped reduced break-ins.
- Pre-Covid population at SF jail was approximately 1200-1300, but is now down to 700-800. This is part of the effort to reduce mass incarceration and to move people out of the jail on Bryant Street, which has serious structural problems.
- Most sideshow revelers are from out of town. More citations and impoundments are happening.
- To review SFPD crime statistics go to: sanfranciscopolice.org
- SFPD has been handling 5150 called for years. Now there are Street Crisis Response Teams, two in the Tenderloin and Mission/Castro.
- A Prop. 47 audit has resulted in the reclassification of certain felonies as misdemeanors.