Capt. Denis O'Leary: Police Beat

Something for Nothing
When he was approached by a gentleman in a business suit, the Sunset resident did not know that he was in for a long ride and a lot less cash. The gentleman told a sad story about the loss of his brother in another country and of his inability to exchange the $200,000 he was carrying into foreign currency.

The money was being held inside the gentleman's waistband wrapped in a bandanna. The gentleman offered something for nothing: if the victim would help, he would earn $5,000.

The victim needed to show his own money as a sign of good faith. They walked to a nearby bank and the victim withdrew $10,000.

Entering a nearby car driven by another suspect, the victim handed over his money. It, too, was stored in the other suspect's waistband in a bandanna.

A long ride to another bank on the other side of town ended with a $3,000 withdrawal that was also stored in the other suspect's waistband. The pair then drove our victim home. The bandanna containing what the victim thought was his cash was turned over with instructions to store it in a safe place. Then the three men would go out for dinner.

After getting out of the suspect's car the victim was left holding a bandanna containing cut up newspapers as he watched the car speed away.

Ill-Gotten Gains
When she arrived home, the victim was surprised by a suspect who opened the door to her beachfront apartment from the inside.

Falsely identifying himself as an undercover police officer, the suspect told her that he could not show his badge because he was "working undercover" and was investigating her selling marijuana. The victim replied that she was selling medicinal marijuana.

The suspect demanded the victim's money and marijuana. The suspect ordered the victim into her kitchen closet and warned her to stay there for 10 minutes. The victim called the police as soon as she heard him leave.

Gone was all her money and marijuana.

More Ill-Gotten Gains
Taraval Station beat officers were frustrated by a prolific bank robber in January. Using a note, the desperado was able to rob three Irving Street banks within 10 days. The police department's Inspector's Bureau and the FBI were working with Taraval Station in an effort to capture the robber.

The suspect was believed to have been responsible for more than a dozen robberies in our fair City. This hapless criminal was soon caught in the Financial District with the help of a teller who followed him out of her bank after he robbed her co-worker.

The teller used her cellular phone to call in the suspect's whereabouts as he walked away from the crime. He was taken into custody as he changed his clothing on a street corner.

Community Policing
The City Attorney's Code Abatement Task Force has been asked to look into two abandoned buildings that have suffered arsons recently. The first fire was on Moraga Street and the second fire was a mile away on 19th Avenue. No connection was found between the two incidents. Taraval Station's Sgt. Rick Galande sits on the task force and has brought both cases to the front burner.

More Community Policing
A homicide occurred in the Ingleside District in early January. A man from the Taraval's OMI neighborhood was shot and killed on Sunnydale Avenue.

Taraval Station's Sgt. Mike Williams reported rumors and graffiti promising retaliation for the death. Operation Ceasefire, a project aimed at reducing gang-related homicides in San Francisco is chaired by Greg Lowder of the Mayor's Criminal Justice Council. This project looked at the Ingleside homicide and the promise of retribution.

Taraval Station's Neighborhood Team (TNT), a group of officers dedicated to the OMI, worked with the City's Adult Probation Department and the state's parole department in identifying known associates of the deceased who were on probation or parole. These associates were then ordered to appear for a mandatory meeting at Taraval Station in mid-January where they were addressed by members of the mayor's office, FBI, US Attorney's Office, Probation Department, Parole Department, SF District Attorney's Office, the SF Sheriffs Department and the SF Police Department (special investigations, homicide and Taraval Station).

The probationers and parolees were warned not to retaliate. As of this writing there have been no reports of violence because of this homicide.

Capt. Denis O'Leary is the commanding officer at the Taraval Police Station.