Capt. Sandra Tong: Police Beat

Officers on the School Beat

The streets are a little more congested now that school has begun again. Patience is the key to navigating safely to work or school or wherever your daily chores take you. Give yourself a little extra time to get where you're going.

Officer Robert Wong joins the Richmond Police Station's School Resource Officer team this fall. He and officer Sandra Newland are responsible for George Washington High School. The school resource officers are part of a federally funded grant to make more police officers available to high school students.

Officers Lorie Brophy and Deborah Gizdich are the Richmond District's school car officers. Unlike the team dedicated to working at Washington High School, they have responsibility for all schools in the district. Between them, they have more than 20 years working with schools in the neighborhood.

As their title implies, the school car/resource officers wear many hats. Aside from their obligation to keep the peace, enforce criminal activity and investigate criminal complaints, they are also available to help with counseling issues and curriculum strategies.

Throughout the school year these officers serve as mentors to students who may be struggling with personal or educational issues. It is important that students interact with police officers to build rapport, as the student population in every district is a large part of the community.

One of the primary goals of the school car officers is to teach young children the importance of school safety. Throughout the school year, officers Brophy and Gizdich visit classrooms and auditoriums to give safety talks.

Not only is this an important educational opportunity, but it also promotes an early relationship with children and helps build trust. This early relationship helps foster cooperation with the police which, hopefully, will last a lifetime.

Scissors-wielding Suspect Busted

On Saturday, Aug. 16, at approximately 10:40 p.m., a Richmond District visitor was robbed of his wallet and jewelry at Clement Street and Sixth Avenue by a scissors-wielding perpetrator.

The victim hailed officers Fergus and Marucco at Clement Street and Arguello Boulevard as they were patrolling the area. The officers, together with the victim, began searching for the suspect.

The victim pointed out the suspect, who was walking on Arguello Boulevard heading toward California Street.

The suspect was still carrying the scissors when the officers arrested the man.

Because a similar crime had occurred at Cabrillo Street and Fifth Avenue the night before, the victims from that robbery were transported to the scene and made a positive identification of the suspect.

It is believed that the suspect had an accomplice and that the men are responsible for other robberies in the Richmond. Those investigations are ongoing by the SF Police Department's Robbery Detail.

I relate this story to you because I want you to know of the good work that the officers at the Richmond Station do on a daily basis.

The next Community/Police Forum will be held at the Richmond Station, 461 Sixth Ave., on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. The guest speaker will be a representative from the SF Bicycle Coalition who will be discussing the coalition's master plan and its implementation and an overview of current programs and how the public can get involved.

Join me at the Richmond Station for an opportunity to learn what the bicycle coalition is all about and how it may impact you. See you then.

Capt. Sandra Tong is the commanding officer at the Richmond Police Station.