In response to rising and legitimate public concerns regarding recent violent assaults and robberies in the Castro neighborhood; Castro Community On Patrol (CCOP), the SFPD Chief’s LGBT Community Advisory Forum, and the Stop The Violence project are co-sponsoring a Public Safety Meeting with District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener on Wednesdsay July 31, 2013 at 6:30pm to be held in the Eureka Valley Recreation Center auditorium.
Chief Ken Craig, Community Patrol USA
“There are very real concerns amongst many people we speak with while on patrol, and concerns clearly expressed through multiple social media outlets regarding violent incidents that are happening to people, friends and neighbors throughout the area,” said Ken Craig, Vice Chair of Castro Community On Patrol, the non-profit neighborhood walking safety patrol that started in late 2006 following a similar spike in violence in the area.
The most recent incident which occured in the very heart of the neighborhood was a strongarm robbery by two suspects brandishing a firearm at 9:15pm at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center on July 11. The two male victims of the robbery, who were celebrating their 30th anniversary as a couple, feared for their lives and quickly handed over ther laptop, i-phones and wallets, but unsatisfied the two brazen thugs demanded one victims wedding ring and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t hand it over.
Both suspects ran from the scene South on Diamond Street, with some witnesses pursuing them on foot. SFPD responded to the scene within minutes and conducted a thorough search of the area but were unable to locate the suspects. We understand they are pursuing a line of inquiry which will hopefully lead to the arrest and conviction of these two thugs.
Suspect in 6/30/2013 Aggravated Assault on Market @ Church
Other incidents include the cowardly thug who viciously kicked a female robbery victim when she was already on the ground on Market Street in the early hours of Sunday morning, June 30. An armed strongarm robbery of an i-phone from male victim on Diamond Street and 20th. An aggravated assault of a male victim by a suspected homeless individual on Hancock Street on June 01.
Sketch of suspect in 06/08/2013 Assault on Hancock Street
“The public, whether they live in the Castro or visit the Castro for fun or employment, must be part of the resolution to this problem,” continued Craig.
“The city, the police and private paid security will never have enough staffing and resources to be in just the right place at just the right time. It requires the general public to do just a little bit more to begin to remedy this situation.”
“Join or start a neighborhood watch program. The Castro and Duboce Triangle neighborhood has fewer than ten neighborhood watch programs established, when in my opinion, every single block should have a watch program in place. Call police whenever you see anything or anyone suspicious. Get invovled with Castro Community On Patrol. Don’t expect someone else to remedy the problem if you’re not engaged in helping to resovle the problem yourself.”
The Public Safety Meeting will incude Chief Greg Suhr of the SFPD as well as many safety organizations who will be able to provide information on how members of the public can get more invovled in helping to remedy the rising violence within the Castro.