DATELINE SAN FRAN: Tenderloin Chat

Philadelphia police officers, you are not alone with your daily plight.
Drugs, witness intimidation, young thugs attached to illegal handguns, and countless other things that fall under the "Thou Shalt Not" section of the Old Testament all have their place in the career of San Francisco's finest.

Philly Confidential chatted with an 11-year veteran of the SFPD, asking him about life on the force.

The plainclothes officer declined to give his name because his bosses did not authorize the impromptu interview. He spoke to PC while standing in front of his dark-colored sedan parked outside the Tenderloin police station. The area is a big hangout for the homeless and drug addicts. It is also home to the city's big name chain hotel. Tourists BEWARE!

"The biggest problem in this city, that you won't see in other cities, is homelessness. It is huge. It is frustrating. Everybody down here [in the Tenderloin], who is out on the streets, we have arrested 90, 120 times."
They mostly commit petty crimes, such as breaking into cars and vandalism.
Drug users and sellers don't really get jail sentences because the city is really big on providing rehabilitation services to people involved in drugs. "Crack is a big problem."

"We [city government] are extremely liberal. So liberal it is bad. There is barely punishment [for drug crimes.]"

"It is frustrating when [there] is a shooting, and [you know] one of the guys should have been in prison."

Witnesses "don't cooperate. It is a huge problem."

Posted by simone at May 12, 2006 04:30 PM