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Commission honors two residents who chased robbery suspect; SFPD reports recent homicides
Summary
The Police Commission recognized Keenan Elam and Gavin Turner for pursuing a robbery suspect and recovering a victim's property. Deputy Chief Tomioka reported four recent homicides and described targeted enforcement that yielded dozens of arrests in the Tenderloin.
The San Francisco Police Commission on Oct. 24 presented certificates of appreciation to Keenan Elam and Gavin Turner for pursuing a robbery suspect on Aug. 28 and helping the Police Department locate and arrest the assailant.
Lieutenant Alexa O'Brien, who said she witnessed part of the incident, described how Elam chased a suspect who had shoved a woman and taken her bag; Turner joined the pursuit and helped disarm the suspect, allowing officers to identify and arrest him. The victim addressed the Commission and said she fractured her hand and was grateful that her laptop, which she said is essential to her work, was recovered.
Why it matters: The recognition highlights citizen intervention in a violent street theft and the department’s public outreach to acknowledge bystander bravery. Commissioners praised both men and encouraged community cooperation with police when safe to do so.
Deputy Chief Lynn Tomioka reported that crime levels were “pretty level” but noted a busy recent weekend with three homicides plus a fourth homicide related to an aggravated assault; he said ConStat figures showed 57 homicides year‑to‑date compared with 43 at the same point last year. Tomioka also described a recent targeted enforcement in the Tenderloin that produced 44 arrests, including 13 people on active parole, 29 booked on felony charges and 15 misdemeanor arrests.
Commissioners thanked the recipients, encouraged community involvement, and noted citywide recruitment efforts including expanded CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) classes.
Next steps: The department will continue its violence‑reduction zone strategy, report back with additional details on the 94‑year‑old assault victim’s condition and provide periodic updates on CIT training and hiring progress.
