Capt. Sandra Tong: Police Beat

Summer is here! This means there are more children around the Richmond District neighborhoods since school is out.

There's an African proverb that says "it takes a village to raise a child." I would like to modify that saying to the effect that it takes an entire neighborhood to ensure the safety of each and every child.

Our district has experienced an increase in traffic accidents. Each and every one of us, as motorists, has an obligation to obey the laws that apply to them. Don't assume because you may have the "right of way" while crossing a street that motorists, motorcyclists and bicyclists will always see you. Be aware of traffic and do not take your safety for granted.

In an effort to reduce the number of traffic accidents in the district and to remind motorists that unlawful driving practices will not be tolerated, I have made daily traffic enforcement by our officers a high priority. Studies have shown that issuing traffic citations effectively reduces accidents resulting in injury. Not only is the violator punished by a fine, but every driver who passes an officer issuing a traffic citation is reminded of the penalties for improper driving.

Here are a few reminders about driver and pedestrian safety:

· Give yourself more time. Leaving a few minutes early for work, school or to run errands alleviates a lot of driver stress. A less stressful driver is a safer driver.

· A yellow signal light means prepare to stop, not put the pedal to the metal. Oftentimes, drivers waiting at an adjacent red light are watching the opposite signal to jump out early on green lights, posing a great risk for someone accelerating through the yellow light.

· The proper place to stop for a stop sign is at the first solid line of the crosswalk or safety zone. This is called the limit line.

· Concentrate on driving. Some states are now implementing laws to prohibit the use of cell phones while driving since cell phone use has been shown to be a contributing factor in traffic accidents. Although California does not yet prohibit the use of cell phones, accident reports are being tracked for statistical purposes and a change regarding cell phone use while driving is probably not far away.

· Vehicles that have a green light must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

· Pedestrians are also required to wait for a green light - or crossing signal - before crossing the street. Be aware that certain times of the day it is very difficult for motorists to see pedestrians, so it is important for everyone to follow the rules.

· Children are required by law to wear bicycle helmets.

· Slow down, be patient and remember, in the end it's not important who's right, but rather, who's safe.

· While being transported in a motor vehicle, children weighing less than 60 pounds and under six years of age are required to be in a child passenger restraint system meeting applicable federal standards. Richmond Station has several officers who have been trained to assist you in the proper installation of a child passenger seat. Please call the station in advance to arrange a time to meet with one of the officers for an inspection.

Rash of Commercial Burglaries
At the end of May I met with the Clement Street Merchants Association to address a rash of commercial burglaries plaguing our district.

Inspectors Denise Fabbri and Steve Mroz joined me in answering the concerns of the merchants. In particular, we provided information on some measures to prevent merchants from becoming a potential target. Some of the points we offered (many of which apply to homeowners and renters alike) were:

· Make certain upon leaving a premise for the night that all doors an windows are secured;

· Maintain a file of serial-numbered items to provide to the police in the event of a loss (this information is needed to make a computer entry of stolen property);

· Designate someone as a "responsible person" for the police department to contact in the event of damage or loss to a business (the Richmond Station maintains a file of "responsible" cards);

· Report suspicious activity.

I also had my nighttime lieutenants organize a burglary task force that yielded positive results. Five arrests were made between February and May. The department's burglary detail is working hard with us to prosecute these criminals. It's quite possible that each burglar is responsible for more than the one crime he was caught committing.

I have also relieved numerous complaints from the community recently about people illegally living in vehicles along Fulton Street from the Great Highway to Arguello Boulevard and on Geary Boulevard between Point Lobos and 40th avenues. As a result, I have put together a team of officers to target these areas and enforce applicable laws in an effort to alleviate the problem.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone that the Richmond District's monthly community meeting is usually held on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Richmond Station, located at 461 Sixth Ave. However, I have been rotating the meetings in an effort to make them more accessible to a wider range of community members. Check your mailers for dates and times. If you are not on the mailing list, call the station to sign up.

The topic for this month's meeting (July 15) is neighborhood nuisances. Please join me at the community meetings to discuss your concerns, ideas and hopes. After all, this is your community and this is the best time and place to voice your opinions. Come out and meet other concerned community members.

Capt. Sandra Tong is the commanding officer at the Richmond Police Station.