On patrol in the Mission, 9/6/08

Today we set out for our patrol with seven Guardian Angels for what was a very hot day in the Mission. With the recent spike in homicides and rising crime in general, we were unsure of how the day would go. Residents were grateful to see us and the patrol went smoothly. While we were waiting for the bus to take us to 16th and Mission, a cab driver pulled up and said he would give us a ride. He was very happy to see us out on patrol and gave us a free ride to the Mission.

We started out by clearing Hunter's Alley where we found several used needles along with some dope cookers. We then went to check on Kid Power park, and a man was passed out face down on the sidewalk in front of the park. I tried to call the Mobile Assistance Patrol to come and pick him up, but I couldn't get through. Throughout the day we saw several men passed out laying on the street, so MAP was probably overwhelmed with calls. A police officer came out and tended to the man as we left on patrol.

On our way down Mission St. we walked amongst the people sitting around the 16th St. BART station and one man had a half-full 40 oz bottle of beer with him and we told him he couldn't drink in public and either needed to pour it out or leave the area. He chose to leave the area.

We continued down Mission St. which was not nearly as crowded as it usually is on Saturday afternoons. It may have been the heat or all the recent shootings, but there were not many people out today. We walked to Alioto park and everything was clear there, so then we headed down Mission to 25th St. and then cleared Travis Alley. For the past few months Travis Alley has been cleaner than in the past, but today we came across several used needles there. We ended up collecting 15 used needles today.

After Travis Alley we walked down 24th St. to Potrero Ave. to patrol the areas where many of the shootings have been happening. People in that area were happy to see us in their community as things have been so bad lately.

We walked back to the 24th St. BART station and posted up for a while before heading back up Mission St. to check Alioto Park once more before heading back for the day. All in all, it was a good day with no incidents. There were many more police officers out on the streets than usual which will hopefully contain the escalating violence.