Commander Richard Corriea: Top priority: Safety in parks

It has been a little over three months since I left Richmond Station to take over my new post at the Hall of Justice. As a police commander with responsibility for the five downtown stations, I am busy with interesting work.
In my new role I have several citywide duties, including being the SF Police Department's liaison to the SF Recreation and Park Department. In this capacity I work with Rec and Parks' senior staff on public safety issues. I also get to work with folks throughout the City on these issues.
From time to time, and much to my pleasure, my work brings me back to our community, the Richmond District.
Parks hold a revered and special place in our lives. That's why a crime in a park or other places of safety is disquieting to us. That's also why it is so important to remember that a busy park is a safe park! Folks visiting parks and other facilities for recreational purposes are, in the community policing sense, natural guardians of our treasured spaces. Their mere presence helps maintain order and they can alert the police and park staff quickly if a problem should arise.
I truly believe that our parks are safe and that much of the credit for this goes to the community. By activating recreational spaces you provide the critical component needed to maintain orderly and safe spaces. And you are doing a great job!
To support your efforts, Park Station Capt. Denis O'Leary and Richmond Station Capt. Keith Sanford have increased their deployment of officers to parks in their districts as part of Operation Safe Summer in the Park. This operation runs through the end of October. In addition, Chief of Police Greg Suhr has transferred six Honda motorcycle officers to Park Station where they will be deployed to focus some of their patrol time in parks and playgrounds. This deployment will help assure continued safety in our parks and recreational facilities.
If you haven't done so yet I encourage you to stop in at Cabrillo Playground, which is located on 38th Avenue, between Fulton and Cabrillo streets. The recently-planted dahlia garden on the 39th Avenue side of the playground is in full bloom and is a spectacular sight that you won't want to miss.
The Cabrillo Playground's clubhouse was designed by architect William Gladstone Merchant, who also designed the Palace of Fine Arts. The Cabrillo Playground facility was built in 1936. Recently, community stake­holders have been working with departments in the city family to design an updated facility.
The project's draft design provides for a Cabrillo Playground that is both fit for the future and honors the facility's important historical aspects. If you would like to take a look at the draft plans, visit the website at www.cabrilloplayground.org.
Finally, as part of a Police Department restructure designed to enhance traffic safety, in early August Chief Suhr increased the deployment of motorcycles to the stations in our Golden Gate Division. Four additional motorcycle officers have been assigned to Richmond Station, so please drive safely.
I will submit a column to the Richmond Review from time to time when I have park-related public safety information that I think would be interesting and helpful to our community. You can e-mail me at richard.corriea@sfgov.org.
SF Police Department Commander Richard Corriea is the former commanding officer at the Richmond Station and is a fourth generation Richmond District resident.