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Commission hears Bay to Breakers and Central District updates; meeting adjourned after disruptions
Summary
Deputy Chief Hector Sinas reported on Bay to Breakers attendance and low incident levels; Captain Lazar outlined Central District staffing, foot-beat deployments and presented student and citizen bravery awards. The meeting was later adjourned early after audience disruptions.
Deputy Chief Hector Sinas reported to the San Francisco Police Commission that the department’s Bay to Breakers policing operation saw large participation and few incidents. “We had 35,000 registrants. We estimate the crowd of over 50,000 participants,” he said, and added the department recorded what he described as a “historically low” number of public-intoxication detentions and “no violent crimes reported.”
Captain Lazar, presenting for Central Station, outlined changes to the district’s borders implemented in July 2015 that expanded coverage into parts of Union Square and Market Street. He said calls for service in the area rose from about 5,800 to roughly 6,900 per month after the redesign and described the district as home to many schools, parks, hotels, hospitals and consulates that affect policing priorities.
Lazar highlighted community policing work including foot-beat assignments in Chinatown — four officers assigned to foot beats with one on duty during daytime — and introduced officers and Community Police Advisory Board members in attendance. He said increasing foot beats is part of an effort to engage residents on the street rather than through patrol cars.
The commission also recognized local community members and students. Fifth grader Grace O welcomed the commission to her school and presented remarks on leadership and community support; the department presented a certificate of appreciation to Grace for her participation. The commission awarded a certificate to 16-year-old Alexander McDonald for bravery after he and a classmate detained a robbery suspect in July 2015.
The meeting was interrupted by an audience member who repeatedly spoke out of turn. President Susie Loftus and commissioners warned that continued disruption would force a recess or adjournment so the commission could proceed and hear other members of the public. Later, citing the disruptions, the chair invited a motion to adjourn. A motion to adjourn was moved and seconded and the chair stated the motion passed despite vocal objections — several attendees and at least one commissioner said “No” on the record — and the meeting was ended.
No formal follow-up report schedule or implementation instructions for the district changes or foot-beat deployments were announced at the meeting.
