Crime Package

By Lonnie S. Holmes

Citywide Crime position statement:

Having safe neighborhoods for all San Franciscans is what is deserved. No one should have to worry about being shot while walking down the streets of San Francisco. Safety is imperative for all citizens in San Francisco. With almost 350 homicides in the last 31/2 years and almost 500 people wounded by gun shot, I believe one crime is too many and public safety officials must be accountable for their ability to respond to all crimes in all neighborhoods. As Mayor, I will provide the tools necessary for the police department to work hand in hand with neighbors and city government officials to craft aggressive strategies to protect San Francisco Citizens.

I have worked in the Law Enforcement field for 20 years; I recognize the need to address crime in San Francisco. I have worked closely with neighbors, police officials and community leaders to fight crime and return peace to neighborhood residents. If elected Mayor, my citywide plan will include working with people that have turned their life around from various neighborhoods across San Francisco to help deal with the vast number of homicides, assaults and the drug market that has plagued many communities in our city. I have already consulted with leaders in the Chinese, Vietnamese, Latino, Samoan, Tongan and other API groups as well as African Americans to assist with my citywide violence prevention plan.

Community Policing Implementation:

It is critical to develop partnerships among citizens, police, prosecutors, courts, and other public and private agencies to assist in reducing the crime rate.

• A Holmes Administration will make sure police officers are familiar with the community in which they are hired to protect. Provide officers with incentives to live in and around the community and understand its dynamics to help foster better relationships, leading to better understanding and safer communities.

• A Holmes Administration will support a partnership between citizens/neighborhoods and officers:

• I will give officers and other officials in the area flexibility and resources to try new policing initiatives.

• Provide an adequate orientation period for officers or officials transferring into new communities.

• Implement policing strategies that combine citizen education, cameras and increased lighting to substantially reduce auto theft.

• Look for ways to strengthen witness assistance and protection programs available to those who are put at risk by testifying at trial.

• Support programs providing ex-offenders and their families with the tools necessary for them to become productive and contributing members of the community, instead of recidivating.

• Increase number of officers on the streets and reduce time required to process cases and shift administrative tasks to civilians.

• Use hot spots strategies to allocate resources to the areas that need them most.

• Provide police officers and their partners with the funding, technology and training they need to do their job. In addition, streamline administrative jobs so more police can be on the streets.

• Increase the line officer access to basic technology, cell phones, night vision scopes and other specialized law enforcement equipment.

• Train police officers to be culturally competent with special populations such as the deaf and English language learners; and encourage citizens to report unusual incidents in their neighborhood and demand that police officers address all crimes whether they are big or small.

The relationship with police, prosecutors, and investigators is often strained; a Holmes Administration will make the investigative process more consistent and efficient to help increase the number of crimes being solved. In addition to assisting in restoring the faith San Francisco citizens have in it's law enforcement agencies.

Overhaul Juvenile Justice:

Far too many of our city's youth are involved in or harmed by crime. I believe that the City government can intervene in the lives of at-risk youth so that they can grow into members of our community. With the help of community leaders, my citywide violence prevention plan will address all aspects and issues relating to juvenile crime

A Holmes Administration will provide affective rehabilitation services to our youth that will aid in reducing recidivism rates and improving the safety of neighborhoods, particularly in areas with the highest crime and arrest rates. Additionally, a Holmes Administration will implement strategies around intervention, prevention and treatment.

Reentry Program for Adult Offenders:

Each year, thousands of men and women leave state and federal prisons as well as the local county jails in San Francisco. This number will be increased with the passage of State Senate Bill 81. This bill is designed to ease the overcrowding of the State prison system which presently holds 170,000 inmates; the system was only design to hold about 75,000. As these offenders reenter San Francisco, there must be a credible reentry plan with fiscal backing to assist these offenders.

A Holmes administration will bring all law enforcement, community based organizations, business leaders, faith community and offenders that have turned their life around to the table to craft a program that will include: Family and community support, pre-release planning, education, employment, and appropriate housing, short and long term.

Conclusion:

San Francisco is vastly becoming one of the Murder Capital's of the World. With almost 350 homicides and 500 mortally wounded by gun shot, it is time to put a Mayor in office that has a vision about solving crime problems. I certainly do not want anyone else to get the call about family, friends or neighbors being shot on the streets of San Francisco. These shooting are happening at all times of the day and evening, it has already had a devastating impact on families, communities, businesses, schools and other entities, particularly in areas with the highest crime and arrest rates. The only solution by the current administration is to come up with more cameras that are not being monitored, we already see crime being pushed into other areas of San Francisco as a result.

With my 20 years in the law enforcement industry, I submit to you a Holmes Administration will reduce the crime rate by 50%, particularly in the areas of homicides and auto thefts. This reduction, will net a 500 million dollar saving to San Francisco. Funding we can use to improve our open spaces, schools, seniors and youth services and other neglected projects. Additionally, I will make sure San Francisco citizens are protected and safe in all neighborhoods.