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SFPD reports 33% drop in Part I crime; 86 arrested in Jefferson Square Park operation
Summary
Chief William Scott told the Police Commission that overall Part I crime is down roughly 33% year to date and described a multiagency DMACC operation at Jefferson Square Park that resulted in 86 arrests and the seizure of over 1.21 pounds of narcotics, while shootings were up 9% compared with last year.
SAN FRANCISCO — At its March 12 meeting, Chief William Scott told the Police Commission that overall Part I crime in San Francisco has fallen about 33% year to date, with property crime down roughly 36% and violent crime down about 14% compared with the same period last year. Scott said the department recorded a 9% increase in shooting incidents — 19 this year versus 15 last year — and that homicide victims were down year to date.
Scott attributed the reductions to targeted enforcement and partnerships and highlighted a multiagency Drug Market Agency Coordination Center (DMACC) operation at Jefferson Square Park on Feb. 26 that he said led to 86 arrests. Of those, Scott said 55 were narcotics-related arrests (mostly misdemeanors) and 31 were for outstanding warrants from jurisdictions across the Bay Area. In response to a public question, Scott said the operation yielded "over 1.21 pounds of narcotics," along with numerous pieces of paraphernalia.
The chief said the Jefferson Square Park operation involved SFPD narcotics units working with the sheriff's office, DEA, fire department, Recreation and Parks and park rangers. He told commissioners the operation had cleared the park of the alleged open-air drug activity and drew people from multiple counties, listing Alameda, Marin, Santa Clara and others among the jurisdictions tied to the arrests.
Scott also reviewed several recent incidents the department handled: a carjacking on Bayshore Boulevard that involved a brief pursuit and a subsequent arrest, two juveniles found with an assault-style rifle at the Stonestown Galleria (police recovered a replica and a recovered ghost gun), and an officer-involved shooting in the Taraval district. He announced a virtual town-hall meeting for March 18 at 3 p.m. to update the public on investigations and answer questions.
Commissioners asked whether similar big-picture operations are being requested in other neighborhoods. Scott said responses are driven by local complaints and intelligence; he cited hot spots including 16th and Mission, Van Ness and Market, the Tenderloin and 6th Street.
The chief's report concluded with the department's homicide clearance rate figure: Scott reported a homicide clearance rate of 160% year to date, noting that the unit has solved some prior-year cases in addition to current-year cases.
Next steps: Scott said the department will continue focused operations in identified hot spots and will brief the commission at the virtual town hall on March 18.
