New day for SFPD — Chief Gascon doing a great job

The San Francisco Police Department is filled with terrific officers.  And, despite popular belief, San Franciscans value strong neighborhood safety.  Chief George Gascon is now harnessing those two facts and moving SFPD in the right direction — taking control of some of the City’s toughest crime problems.  For example, the Chief has ordered a crackdown on the Tenderloin’s notorious open-air drug-dealing, and we’ve already seen some great results, with a drop in violent crime in the neighborhood. (http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/Local-Editorial-Promising-new-SF-community-policing-push-63509592.html and http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/under-the-dome/Out-of-towners-causing-trouble-63333972.htm

The department is also seeing strong results in the Ingleside District, which spans from Bernal Heights through Glen Park, Upper Noe Valley, Diamond Heights, and Forest Hill.   Ingleside is a test station for a number of proposed SFPD reforms, including improved technology and innovative staffing ideas.  Ingleside also is lucky to have Captain David Lazar, who is energetic, willing to try new things, and extremely connected to the community.  For example, Captain Lazar has been aggressive in having undercover officers ride Muni regularly to improve Muni’s safety record (crime on Muni has gone up even as crime citywide has gone down).  We’re now seeing the results, as robberies in the Ingleside District have dropped.  Robberies have been a big problem, particularly in Glen Park and Noe Valley, but things appear to be improving.  (http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/under-the-dome/Robberies-continue-to-drop-steadily-in-Ingleside-63487587.html)

It’s great to see the department moving in the right direction.  San Franciscans want to live in safe neighborhoods, and we’re moving in that direction.