San Francisco mayor calls for more aggressive law enforcement, orders higher police presence

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced on Tuesday at an emergency police intervention that a crackdown on crime would be taking place.

A number of smash-and-grab robbery incidents have occurred in the city, amid a general increase in crime.

“It’s the reign of criminals who are destroying our city, it is time for it to come to an end,” Breed said. ‘And it comes to an end when we take the steps to [be] more aggressive with law enforcement. More aggressive with the changes in our policies and less tolerant of all the bullsh-t that has destroyed our city.”

She specifically ordered a higher police presence in the Tenderloin neighborhood, a region that has seen a pipeline of illegal drugs that has been contributing to a surge in gun violence as well as deadly fentanyl overdoses. 

The SFPD Tenderloin Station tweeted information on Tuesday afternoon regarding police activity in the area over the past week, noting the seizure of almost a kilogram of drugs, more than half of which was fentanyl. Seventeen suspects were arrested in connection to the drugs, and 14 of those alleged dealers had previous arrests in San Francisco.

“In recent months,” Breed continued, “we’ve not only seen a number of high-profile incidents of brazen robberies and car break-ins but also street behavior and criminal activity especially in the Tenderloin that has become far too normal and cannot continue to be tolerated.” 

She added, “All of our residents, our workers and everyone who visits our city should feel safe no matter what part of town they are in. I know San Francisco is a compassionate city. We are a city that prides ourselves on second chances and rehabilitation. But we’re not a city where anything goes. Our compassion should not be mistaken for weakness or indifference.”

SFPD’s Central District, including tourist hot spots like Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown, has seen the highest number of looting events. Last month alone, there were 876 reports, amounting to 30 per day, compared with 442 last November.

In closing, Breed said, “To be clear, what I’m proposing today and what I will be proposing in the future will make a lot of people uncomfortable and I don’t care. At the end of the day the safety of the people of San Francisco is the most important thing to me. We are past the point where what we see is even remotely acceptable.”