SAN FRANCISCO – As newly elected San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie begins his transition to City Hall, all eyes are on his implementation of the promises made during the campaign – especially regarding public safety.
One issue that Lurie and other candidates touted as a solution to increasing public safety is the concept of community policing, in which officers build trust and relationships with community members over time, often resulting in more cooperation on investigations and crime prevention efforts.
Although the idea was conceived in 2018 to be implemented by the SFPD, it has been stalled by the pandemic and as understaffing issues have hampered progress in the department.
But in Chinatown, SFPD officers Dexter Tsang and Talent Tang have been practicing community policing since joining the department in 2019. It’s been a long road to gaining the trust of merchants and residents, but it’s paying off in the community’s sense of security.
“We interact with the community on a daily basis, and I think the fact that we’re here, because we’re actually here to address all of their concerns, it made them feel more comfortable just going about their daily lives, where maybe they had some people in other communities, in different places, outside of Chinatown, may not have the same experience,” Tsang said.
Tsang has a long history with the department, inspired by his father who retired as a lieutenant from the SFPD and continues his family’s legacy of serving the Chinatown community.
Tang grew up in the neighborhood and has used his knowledge of residents’ native languages to build deeper connections and trust.
Their deep knowledge of the area has opened the door for the community to work with police in ways they might otherwise hesitate, such as texting tips directly or offering surveillance footage to help solve crimes.
Outside a restaurant, the couple heard a familiar sound. It was a well-known member of the region who was in the grip of a mental health crisis. They were able to quickly de-escalate the situation without using force, while getting the man the help he needed.
“It’s an example of how community policing actually works, such as helping to de-escalate problems before they escalate into violent use of force,” Tang said.
The strategy, while simple, is not being implemented in most other San Francisco counties, largely because the department has about 500 officers and priorities such as reducing vandalism take precedence.
But in Chinatown, residents and business owners alike said they feel a deeper sense of security because of their personal relationships with their local officials.
That’s the case for Raymond Hong, who has owned Rainbow Photo in Stockton and Sacramento for 35 years. He said he doesn’t profit much from his businesses these days, but stays put because of his role in the community.
He is called a ‘block captain’ by the officers. In that role, he serves as a liaison between the community and officers, relaying concerns and reporting directly to Tsang and Tang. He even pinned their direct numbers to his wall.
“People should let them know what they need. If they don’t say anything, how can they help,” Hong explained of residents who are often hesitant to contact police. “I love them, just like my family. I call them right away and they come right away.”
He said he believes more tourists are coming to Chinatown because he believes public safety has improved thanks to the more personal system called community policing.
It is just as important for the officers.
“I would say a lot of them were intimidated, but now they know we’re here all the time. They know we’re friendly, we smile at them,” Tang said.
These small acts of kindness create big steps toward building public trust and public safety.
