Castro Cares: Funding Street Outreach and Added Enforcement
What is the added enforcement funded by Castro Cares?
Castro Cares funds 32 hours a week of dedicated SF Patrol Special Police on foot and car patrol in the Castro & Upper Market.
What are the SF Patrol Special Police?
Patrol Special Police are the only private neighborhood policing service screened by background checks conducted by the SFPD, annually trained at the San Francisco Police Academy, and regulated by the Police Commission. SF Patrol Special Police provide the only private safety service that is legally permitted to patrol the City’s streets, carry firearms and handcuffs, and is on police radio frequencies.
For Castro Cares, the Patrol Special Police work on Fridays and Saturdays: 7 pm - 7 am and on Sundays from 9 am - 5 pm. This schedule enables Castro Cares to provided added enforcement when SFPD is rarely available. During hours of patrol, officers enforce existing laws, conduct wellness checks on people at risk on the street, assist people in crisis, intervene in shoplifting, call the ambulance when necessary, build relationships with people at risk on the street, are a police presence to encourage a feeling of safety and deter crime.
Testimonial...
Daniel Bergerac, (co-owner Mudpuppy's Tub & Scrub 536 Castro St., immediate-past president Castro Merchants, member Castro Cares Leadership Team), was curious what the Patrol Special really did, so he did a ride-along with the beat owner Cody Clements on August 23rd to truly get a sense of their work and their worth. Daniel sat down with Mark Scheuer (a Duboce Triangle resident, DTNA member and also a member of the Castro Cares Leadership Team)to talk with him about his experience with Patrol Special. Below is the interview Mark had with Daniel: MS: Why a ride along?
DB: I have been a harsh critic of the Patrol Special Police, I have been one of those people saying, why? What do they do? So, Andrea Aiello, executive director Castro CBD, suggested I find out what they do and ride-along with Cody Clements one night. MS: What did you do?
DB: We started at 7 p.m. and I rode and walked with him for two-and-a-half hours. I was literally shocked at the level of professionalism and community oriented policing provided. MS: Community oriented policing? What do you mean?(READ MORE)
"Hey, I really need to get into drug treatment...I'm ready and done with this..." an at-risk person said to John, the Castro Cares Outreach Worker.
On this particular Monday morning, the stars aligned. John was working with his colleague from the Dpt. of Public Health ...who has access to treatment beds...and it just so happens, he was aware of an empty bed! Boom! Referral and placement made right then and there! Treatment on Demand. Let's keep helping those who need and want help. Great work Castro Cares! To learn more go to: http://castrocares.org/
Castro Cares is funded by a grant from SF OEWD and donations. Join your neighbors and make a donation to Castro Cares Now!
Volunteering with the Castro CBD is a great way to give back to your community. There are different ways to help:
Castro Cares depends on continued support by neighbors, merchants, and grants from OWED/Invest In Neighborhoods. More information, data, and a map are available on the Castro Cares web site, www.castrocares.org. DONATE HERE.
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