[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of February 14, 2014. To be added to the station’s mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org.]
CAPTAIN SIMON SILVERMAN’S MESSAGE
Several people have asked me when to call 911 and when to use the SFPD’s non-emergency number (415-553-0123). Here is an overview from the Department of Emergency Management:
Call 911 for help in an emergency. If you are not sure if it’s an emergency, call 911 anyway. If you call 911 and the dispatcher determines that your call requires response, but not emergency response, you will be transferred to the non-emergency dispatch line.
Common examples of emergencies include:
– A danger to life, property or the environment
– A crime in progress or a crime just occurred
– A medical emergency
– A fire
If you need help, but there is no emergency, call 415-553-0123.
Call Evaluation
When you call 911 a public safety dispatcher, also known as a call taker, evaluates your call and determines what type of response is required. They enter your call information into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system for first responder deployment. In addition to evaluating your situation, the call taker can also provide medical instruction, such as CPR, before help arrives.
Dispatch
Another public safety dispatcher, also known as a radio dispatcher, communicates to first responders in the field. The radio dispatcher coordinates the response of first responders and maintains the status of all units. For law enforcement situations, this includes deploying more police if needed. In the event of a medical or fire response, this includes making sure the right type of resources and equipment is on the scene.
What Will The Dispatcher Want To Know?
– What language or dialect you speak
– What is happening
– Where the situation is occurring
– When the incident occurred
– Who is involved,
– Was a weapon used
– Is anyone injured
These questions help us to send the right kind of help to you as quickly as possible. They also help us to keep our police officers, firefighters, and paramedics safe by helping them know what to expect when they arrive.
Even though we are asking you a lot of questions, we are sending help. We may keep you on the line to gather more information, even after we dispatch police, fire, or medical help to your location. Do not hang up.
What if I Call 9-1-1 By Accident?
Do not hang up. Stay on the line and tell the dispatcher that everything is all right. If you don’t, the dispatcher may think that something is wrong and send a police officer.
The majority of 9-1-1 calls we receive from cell phones are the result of accidental dialing. Processing these calls can delay help for real emergencies. Become familiar with the features of your cell phone, especially the “key lock”, which prevents accidental dialing.
Our next Community meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 6pm. It will be in the Community Room, here at Richmond Station, 461 6th Ave.
NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 02/07/14 at 8:05am, officers were called to the 6100 block of California St on a report of a suspicious male trying to place a padlock and chain on her neighbor’s front door. Officers located the male at 22nd and California St and had him sit in a chair while conducting the investigation. Officers determined that the suspect was a wanted subjected in an aggravated assault and was also on parole. The officers had the male stand up so handcuffs could be placed on him and he said, “I ain’t going, get the f*** off of me!” He tried to run away and when an officer grabbed his arm, he continued to struggle. Another officer was able to grab him and pull him to the ground. The suspect jumped up and threw the officer in the air and into a wooden cabinet. The suspect fled on foot towards Lake St and hopped a fence on the 2000 block of Lake St. Officers set up a perimeter around the home and found him hiding in a detached garage behind a parked vehicle. The 27yr old male was charged with the warrant, parole violation, resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a police officer. The officer was transported to a local hospital for arm and neck injuries. The padlock and chain were recovered.
On 02/07/14 at 6:45pm, officers responded to a call of an auto accident on Crossover Dr at Park Presidio Bypass. Officers located three vehicles involved with one vehicle on its side. They secured the scene and checked for injuries on all parties. One of the officers was checking the interior of the vehicle on its side by illuminating the interior with a flashlight. He saw that there were two large black garbage bags that come open. Inside the bags was a large quantity of marijuana. The officers spoke with the two occupants of that vehicle who were a little unclear as to how they knew each other. They were also unclear as to who owned the vehicle and that they only knew that they were to drive the vehicle to Santa Cruz. The approximate weight of the marijuana was 105 pounds. The two female occupants, one 18yr old and a 25yr old were charged with possession for sale and transportation of marijuana.
On 02/07/14 at 11:30pm on the 3000 block of Jackson a subject continually rang the door bell to an apartment from outside the main lobby door. The victim finally went to the main door and saw the suspect standing there. He opened the door and told the suspect to knock it off, but let him in believing he was there to see another tenant in the building. The victim went back to his own apartment and 5 minutes later, he could hear the suspect outside his front door. When he went out again the suspect called him names and said. “Let’s take this outside.” The victim agreed and walked to the main door and opened it. When the suspect walked out the victim closed the door and locked the suspect outside. The suspect began to pound and kick at the glass door and the noise brought the other tenants to the entryway. No one in the building knew the suspect. The suspect finally kicked the glass out, walked through the opening and began to swing at the victim and other tenants. Finally they were able to subdue him and hold him on the ground until officers arrived. The officers could hear the suspect screaming to let him go and that he would pay for the window. When officers detained the male he swore at them and said, “I’m from Santa Clara and my parents have money to pay for this.” The 22 year old male, who was under the influence of alcohol, was charged with vandalism and trespassing.
On 02/09/14 at 1:45am, officers were called to an assault that had just occurred at a bar at 3rd and Geary. When the officers arrived there was a large crowd out in front and people were huddled together due to the rain. The victim approached the officers and pointed out the female suspect to them. The victim told the officers that she was in the women’s restroom and for no reason; the suspect punched her twice in the face. There was a witness as well who didn’t know either the victim or suspect that also spoke to the officers. The witness told the officers that she was waiting line in the women’s restroom when the suspect accidentally got hit by a door. The suspect suddenly punched the victim in the face even though she had nothing to do with it. When the victim asked why, the suspect punched her again. The witness said that she took a photo of the suspect with her cell phone. When the suspect saw this she tried to grab the phone away from the witness, but was unsuccessful. The officers went to speak with the suspect and had her step aside due to the noise of the crowd. When they told her why she was being detained she said that she had only pushed the victim and it was because she was interrupting. The officers could see that she was intoxicated. The officers were then confronted by two males, one of whom was the brother of the female suspect. They told the two males to step away and stop interrupting. The males refused and at one point the brother told the officers to leave her alone. Again the brother was told to move away and he said to the officer, “You’re so tough.” He grabbed the officer’s arm. The officer struck the brother on the arm which made him let go. The brother (who was also intoxicated) tried to hide in the crowd but was detained. The 22yr old female was charged with battery and public intoxication, the 23yr old brother was charged with obstruction and public intoxication.
On 02/12/14 at 1:15pm, plain clothes officers were in the JFK Drive and Bernice Rodgers Way in Golden Gate Park, looking for a male they knew had a parole warrant. They located that male, along with two others in the area. One of the other males also had a warrant and was in possession of narcotic paraphernalia. The third male, who is on probation, was in possession of methamphetamine and a stun gun. All three were booked.
NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 02/07/14, 11am and 02/10/14, 1:30pm on the 100 block of Wood St, a suspect gained entry into a residence by forcing open a rear door. The suspect took a 46” flat screen TV, a desk top computer and a wheel chair.
On 02/07/14 at 12pm on the 3000 block of Geary Blvd., the victim was refilling a stand-alone ATM machine in a corner store. The two suspects approached the front door of the business and confronted the victim. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun, the other with pepper spray which he sprayed in the victim’s face. The victim was told to drop the bag of cash and he complied.
The suspects then fled south on Blake St. They were described as black males, 20-25yrs, one wearing a green camouflage jacket, the other a black hooded jacket.
Between 02/07/14, 9pm and 02/08/14, 8am on the 700 block of 16th Ave, a suspect entered a garage and took two bikes. There were no signs of forced entry.
Between 02/08/14, 3:30pm and 02/10/14, 6:45am on the 2600 block of Sutter St a suspect broke into a home under construction by prying open a window. The suspect then took tools from the home.
On 02/09/14 at 4:45am, on the unit block of Edward, a roommate heard the sound of glass breaking. He went outside to investigate but saw nothing unusual. When the other roommate, who had fallen asleep on the couch, went to her room, she saw that her window was broken and her laptop was missing.
Between 02/09/14, 12pm and 02/10/14, 6:30am on the 2600 block of Pacific, a suspect pried open a rear door to a home under construction. The suspect forced entry into the lock boxes and took tools.
On 02/10/14 at 9:45pm, the victim was east on Post St towards Steiner. She saw the suspects on the opposite side of the street and watched them cross the street towards her. One of the suspects covered her mouth while the other took her laptop and bag. They then fled east on Post towards Fillmore in a newer model dark sedan. The suspects were two black males, 18-20yrs, wearing all dark clothing.
On 02/11/14 at 12:15am, the victim was walking west on Anza towards 17th Ave. She was immediately approached by two suspects and pushed to the ground. When she started to scream, one of the suspects covered her mouth. She tried to hide her cell phone but the suspect saw her and hit her in the head. The suspects took her purse and contents, along with her phone. The suspects ran to a waiting vehicle parked at 17th and Anza and fled. The suspects were described as two black males, 18-25yrs, both wearing dark clothing. The vehicle was described as a black 4dr sedan, possibly a Toyota.