IN THE COMMUNITY

Community Policing Activities & Events: 

SF SAFE partners with the SFPD and other city stakeholders to host a variety of safety-centric events, such as “Coffee with a Cop,” “Munch & Mingle,” “National Night Out,” press conferences and more. Keep updated on all of SF SAFE’s happenings by signing up for the organization’s monthly newsletter or by following us on social media on Twitter and Facebook. 

Annual Lunar New Year Extortion Prevention and Public Safety Press Conference:  

Each year, SF SAFE joins with the SFPD, city and community leaders to host a Lunar New Year Extortion Prevention and Public Safety Press Conference and merchant walk surrounding celebrations of the Chinese New Year. The citywide initiative educates Asian merchants and Lunar New Year celebrants on how to prevent extortion, burglary and robbery during the festive season—a time that can experience an uptick in related crimes. As part of this event, SF SAFE and SFPD representatives walk through Chinatown to directly communicate with merchants and community members. 

Community Organizing: 

SF SAFE’s history of community organizing in San Francisco runs deep. Some of SF SAFE’s community organizing efforts include partnering with the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) on the city’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) program, with the SFPD on Community Police Advisory Boards (CPABs) and spearheading public safety info initiatives in local neighborhoods. 

The SFFD’s NERT program grew out of SF SAFE’s Neighborhood Watch Groups following the Loma Prieta Earthquake. At that time, SF SAFE, the SFFD and the community came together to form NERT to help residents feel less vulnerable when facing future disasters. Today, NERT is a free training program for individuals, neighborhood groups and community-based organizations in San Francisco. Through this program, individuals learn the basics of personal preparedness and prevention; this includes hands-on disaster skills that will help them respond to a personal emergency and act as members of a neighborhood response team. Register online on NERT’s website or call 415-970-2022. 

The CPABs are groups of residents and business representatives who are selected by each district station captain to assist in problem-solving surrounding crime and safety issues, and to act as a “think tank” for community policing activities. All members represent larger communities and groups and have a diverse make-up. Similar to SF SAFE’s Neighborhood Watch Groups, the CPABs are a way for community members to come together, problem solve and make San Francisco safer.  

In addition to these community organizing efforts, SF SAFE also leads public safety information initiatives in city neighborhoods. Read SF SAFE’s monthly newsletter and social media posts to keep abreast of this outreach.