By Captain Stephen Tacchini
The past couple of weeks have been extremely busy in the Mission District. Besides the everyday calls for police services, arrests, crime prevention programs, traffic safety and enforcements, community meetings, training, and crime enforcement operations, there have been several large events to plan for and facilitate. Despite the demand, the officers of Mission Station stepped up and delivered the necessary police services. The workload of these officers is often daunting, yet no challenge goes unmet. Their work ethic and commitment to public safety and crime prevention is commendable and the pride they take in the performance of their duties is well deserved.
Over the past couple of months, the Mission District has hosted several large events involving thousands of attendees. The last two weeks of October were very busy planning and organizing the Red Bull Soapbox Derby which drew approximately 100,000 persons, the “Milk” movie premier at the Castro Theater, Halloween, Dia de las Muertes Parade, and Election Day events. It may seem as though there is not much involved in planning these events, but I assure you the process is often complex, involving multiple agencies, large personnel resources and logistical planning to assure all necessary equipment and personnel needs are accounted for. An important ingredient in planning and working with organizers, community members, and merchants is diplomacy, respect, experience, and knowledge of what needs to be done. Behind the scenes, organizing all aspects of these events is Sergeant Marta McDowell. The demand on police personnel to staff these events is significant and it takes flexible and creative distribution of resources by Sergeant McDowell and the Mission Station lieutenants to make sure sufficient patrol officers remain available to police the district. I want to publicly commend Sergeant McDowell for her outstanding and tireless efforts in planning and supervising all of the previously listed events. Each and every one of them went off without a hitch and the level of public safety at the events and elsewhere in the district were exceptional.
Often times, and occasionally with appropriate reason, the media cites perceived shortcomings of the Police Department in the performance of its duties. In the case of the events hosted in the Mission District, planned and supervised by Sergeant Marta McDowell, there is no room for criticism, but only praise. Since the media reporting on these events was limited, I feel it is important to share with you the positive outcome of all of the events. It is also important to recognize the efforts of the officers of Mission Station and from other units of the San Francisco Police Department in making all of the events happen safely, peacefully, and with a continuity of professional and respectful service. A job well done by all!
I respect criticism provided for the goal of improvement. I encourage suggestions made for the good of all. I welcome participation from those who care enough to share the burden of trying to make a difference.
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