For those not on the Patrol Specails list, I am forwarding announcement from Ann Grogan. Meeting to discuss the possible fate of the Patrols is now scheduled for April 20. I say "possible fate" because the Commission can vote all it wants to, but the deciding vote still belongs to the people of San Francisco, since the Patrols are a part of the City Charter.
Marcy
Hello All,
Alan Byard, President of the Patrol Special Police, apparently got a call today, Monday, from the SFPD that the Patrol Special agenda item is back on for discussion in front of the police commission, and vote possibly, this Weds (two day notice this time) at 5:30 pm, April 20, regarding the flawed Boson (aka Mass) research report on this valuable neighborhood police force. This report as you likely know, recommended that this voluntary policing option be taken away from citizens who pay for it in principal part, and effectively make these neighborhood police into State-regulated security guards with lesser powers and lesser training, all in the name of the study purpose of 'improving the program'
.
Apparently someone somewhere is even more set than last time, to keep the public attendance down by shrinking our advance notice, probably thinking that late date notice will prevent us from organizing in support of the Patrol Specials.
Because I know you are interested, I wanted you to know that this Weds. might be one crucial opportunity to show our support, prior to a final vote of the commission to either endorse, or terminate the program and to set that process in motion (will take more than just one vote, of course, to terminate the program, involving BOS hearings and a Charter vote).
Also many of us would appreciate you circulating this notice to a wide audience of possible attendees or those interested in public safety, with an invitation to attend.
We don't have any idea yet how the commission might vote or if they will vote, however pro or con, showing our support by attending could make a favorable impression and also make a legal record. Obviously testimony (only need be 1-3 minutes, a very short time indeed!) presented would have the primary effect of educating the viewing public, inasmuch as all deliberation, consideration of the Patrol Special and other folks' reply and analysis of the Boston report, has already been done by the commission for certain, with probably more than one internal discussion of the matter over the past months since the report was released on Sept. 1. It was internally released March 1, 2010, by now one year late in terms of data collection and thus, entirely out of date considering our dire deficit and growing crime problem.
Please plan to attend if you can, and be prepared to express your concerns for only 1 to 3 minutes, a very short time to speak. If you have questions please feel free to call me or Officer Byard: Al Byard 2540 - atbyard83@yahoo.com (415) home: 221-9450
Ann
415 587-3863
Ps. You may read the Specials summary position and other position responses and papers on this webpage, identified as "Mass report."
The following information is a reminder of your current mailing
list subscription:
You are subscribed to the following list:
Supporters of the San Francisco Patrol Special Police and of private neighborhood policing as an optional safety program to supplement public policing