New Police Chief Visits Sunset to Talk about Crime

By Natasha Lee

Recently appointed San Francisco Chief of Police George Gascon met with Outer Sunset District residents for the first time on Feb. 18 to discuss public safety issues and to encourage closer police-community relations in reaction to continuing crime in the district.

San Francisco Supervisor Carmen Chu hosted the meeting at the Sunset Recreation Center in which approximately 80 people, including city officials, Sunset and other city residents, and Taraval Station police officer Lt. Henry Parra, attended.

Public safety was the big concern of the night, especially after a man was shot and killed Feb. 17 on Irving Street, between 19th and 20th avenues, in broad daylight.

When an audience member asked how police could assure residents that the Sunset was safe, Gascon said the shooting and a Moraga home invasion, where a man was shot to death in January, targeted specific individuals.

"I can assure you that (a home invasion) will not happen in your neighborhood unless you are involved with gang-related activities," Gascon said.

However, Gascon said another safety measure can be implemented. He has requested the San Francisco Police Commission allow police officers to carry tasers. Using tasers in certain situations, he says, would reduce the number of injuries and deaths of suspects and police and decrease liability on the force.

Opponents of Gascon's request say tasers can be misused and result in injuries and deaths.

Gascon disagrees, saying those cases are extremely rare.

"We are using politics over lives," he said.

The Police Commission was slated to vote March 3 on whether the SF Police Department (SFPD) can acquire tasers.

Additionally, Gascon wants to build a new forensics lab, as the current lab cannot process the backlog of DNA, fingerprints and guns needed to convict criminals.

"Soon, we will be sitting on DNA so that a rapist can rape three more times," he said.

Also, Gascon wants to improve the city morgue.

He says when San Francisco's inevitable, big earthquake comes, emergency personnel will be needing "freezing trucks from supermarkets for body bags."

The meeting then turned to the subject of marijuana. Gascon stated that overall, he supported the legalization and taxation of marijuana, but said "marijuana is not medicine."

Paul Hansbury, a spokesperson for the Medicinal Cannabis Dispensary (MCD), asked Gascon if he thought the fears some people had about MCDs were warranted. Gascon said property crimes increased when pot clubs moved into neighborhoods.

Hansbury disagrees with Gascon's comments about marijuana, saying that property crimes either increase insignificantly or decline in neighborhoods with MCDs. He also cited multiple studies concluding that marijuana has medicinal properties. But, he calls Gascon an "honest man" who is "doing his best." He also appreciated that Gascon did not avoid any questions.

All speakers encouraged community involvement with police.

Gascon urged citizens to attend district meetings to voice their concerns to their police station captain.

He also encouraged residents to attend CompStat meetings. CompStat is a program that uses computer statistics to hold police station captains accountable for their districts' problems.

Some residents are already doing their part for the community. Parra cited citizens who redirected traffic when the Irving shooting's surrounding area was closed.

Parra also attributed a significant decrease in auto burglaries in the Sunset not only to the SFPD, but to residents taking the appropriate safety measures.

Chu stressed the need for community cooperation, as well. In response to a resident's fear of driving on Sunset Boulevard due to drivers who speed, she stated that four lights will be added to improve safety.

The meeting was Gascon's first chance to establish good relations with Sunset residents since starting his job as the police chief in August.

He seemed to make a good impression on Monica Williams, David Phillips and Susan Fry.

Fry believes that Gascon, coming from outside the SFPD, brings a fresh perspective on policing. She applauds him for bringing detectives into neighborhood precincts and trying to acquire modern tools and facilities needed to fight crime.

"My sense is that we have a real opportunity here, and I really hope San Franciscans willÊconsider his suggestions and work with him," she said.

Phillips described Gascon as "a serious guy with a reasonable approach to police work and a determination to get things done."

Williams, who has multiple SFPD officers in her family, said she not only believes Gascon will be cooperative with other elements of city government, but his approach would win the respect of his officers.

"He certainly won mine," she said.

CompStat meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of the month. The next meeting will be held on March 17 at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 2850 19 Ave., at 10 a.m. District police meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at the Taraval Police Station, 2345 24th Ave., at 7 p.m.