Capt. Jere Williams: Police Beat

Happy Holidays to each of you!

I am glad to be ending 2007 in the Richmond District, and I look forward to starting the New Year, with plans to enhance police services in the district.

The SF Police Commission will be holding its January meeting in the Richmond District on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. They will be meeting at the Roosevelt Middle School, 460 Arguello Blvd. Geary Boulevard is the cross street, and there will be ample parking on the school's playground.

Please come to voice your concerns, and to show your support for the fine group of officers who strive to keep our neighborhoods safe. You will also be able to meet the lieutenants and sergeants that supervise the patrol force in the Richmond.

Additionally, I will be discussing my new enforcement plans for the district, and share my philosophy on community policing programs. I firmly believe that community policing works better when we all work together.

I would like to remind you that children are once again at school, so be aware of your surroundings and look out for your own personal safety. Be careful when you are out walking or driving in your car. You never know when there are drunk drivers on the street.

Please call 9-1-1 if you see signs of a person driving under the influence. If you have plans to drink alcohol, then have a designated driver before the party begins. Leaving your car parked and getting a ride home is also a wise thing to do if you feel the effects of alcohol. You will save a lot of money by getting a taxi for the ride home, instead of being arrested.

Each Tuesday afternoon, the Richmond Newsletter is available in the lobby of the Richmond Station. Please feel welcome to take one, or notify officer Lorie Brophy at 666-8028 if you want to be added to the e-mail list.

I have found 3-1-1 to be an excellent resource number to telephone for help. It is a customer-service-based non-emergency information center for all City departments and agencies; anything from dumped trash and tree trimming and graffiti complaints to Muni questions.

Calling 9-1-1 on your cell phone works for emergency services, and will be routed to our dispatch center on Turk Street. But, if you are on, or near, a freeway you may have your call directed to the California Highway Patrol dispatch center in Vallejo. If CHP is not what you are looking for, then you have another option of calling 553-8090, which is a SF Police Department's anonymous emergency line.

I would like to close, by wishing each of you a safe new year.

Capt. Jere Williams is the commanding officer at the Richmond Station.