OCTOBER, 2014
Traffic Safety
At the beginning of the year, Chief Greg Suhr directed the captains to increase traffic safety. Too many people were being injured and killed while walking or driving. The officers at Taraval Station responded by conducting pedestrian right-of-way violation stings increased general traffic enforcement, and directed traffic enforcement. This is still continuing. Officers at Taraval Station have already issued more traffic violations citations this year than they issued all of 2013.
We have also tried to educate people about traffic safety. Taraval’s Community Police Advisory Board helped develop a “Focus on the 5 & Mind the Signs” safety card that officers give out during traffic stops. These safety cards alert people to the top 5 violations that causes pedestrian injuries and death and the consequences.
We also use our speed limit radar trailer to advise drivers of the speed they are traveling. We have used them at various locations in the district.
Traffic safety is a priority in San Francisco and in the Taraval Police District. I urge everyone to be alert and drive safely.
If you would like to have traffic enforcement or the speed radar trailer at a specific location, email me at curtis.lum@sfgov.org
New Homeless Outreach Officer
Officer Daniel Rosiak is Taraval Station’s new Homeless Outreach officer. He takes the place of Officer Duane Elzey who was promoted to sergeant. Being homeless is not a crime, however, some homeless people do commit crimes. It is Officer Rosiak’s job to offer resources to homeless people and try to help them get off the street. If the people do not want these resources, that’s their choice, but they cannot break the law. It’s also Officer Rosiak’s job to cite or arrest them if they violate the law. If you have concerns about homeless people or other quality of life issues and would like to contact him, please email him at daniel.w.rosiak@sfgov.org.
Taraval Officers Honored
On September 10, 2014, Officers Richard Austria, Braden Todaro, and Francis Graves were honored for their hard work and dedication as school resource officers by the Lincoln High School Parent Teacher Student Association. For the past few years these officers have been providing police services to all the schools in the Taraval Police District. These officers were given certificates by signed by Supervisor Katy Tang and all the members of the Board of Supervisors.
www.taraval.org
Every few weeks I get an email from a person stating that they used to receive an email newsletter from Taraval Station. They go on to state that they no longer get it and ask why. The reason why people do not get an email newsletter is because Taraval Police Station has a website, www.taraval.org. This website has all the information we used to put on the newsletter. Because it’s much easier to put the information on the website, it frees up the officer to do other things.
The Taraval District has the lowest crime rate in the City
The Part 1 crime rate which is homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, auto theft, burglary theft from vehicle, arson, and other theft is 14.72 percent, per 1000 residents in the Taraval District. This is the lowest Part 1 crime rate in the City. The Part 1 crime rate is down .9% from last year.
Taraval Police Station will hold its community meeting on October 22, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center at 650 Capitol St., S.F., CA. This meeting is open to all.