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“DESTINATION: SF”

November 1, 2012
Greg Suhr

The Headline of the September 26 Examiner read:

“DESTINATION: SF”

Unprecedented series of events big and small to bring

1 million people to The City next week

And 1 million+ showed up to enjoy Oracle World, Fleet Week, The Blue Angels, America’s Cup Racing, Hardly Strictly Blue Grass, Castro Street Fair, Niners Football, Giant’s Playoff Baseball, Italian Heritage Parade in North Beach, an ANSWER Anti-War Rally and March, and more. To top it off President Obama rolled into town on the 8th for an event at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium…all in a matter of less than 10 days in October.

In any other City with any other Police Department there might have been cause for concern that this was just too much all at once. Such was (is) not the case in San Francisco. The week or so went off without a hitch – even with an anarchist march/mini-riot thrown (only “mini” because of the quick decisive action of those that worked the unpermitted march) for good measure. The class and professionalism of the men and women was also on full display during this time. SFPD showed once again to be simply “the best”.

On behalf of a very grateful Mayor and City, I want to say “thank you.” I know many of you would have loved to have been out and about in our great City enjoying one or more of these events; or just would have enjoyed some time off to do anything at all with your families and friends but you couldn’t because the entire Department was called to duty. Called and, “man oh man”, did you show up! Each and every officer came to work without complaint and kept every event safe and enjoyable for those that came to see San Francisco – however they chose to enjoy it. You were cheerful, accommodating, and professional just as our patrons have come to know us. I wish I had a nickel for every person that came up to me and said, “You (as Chief) have got to be so proud to have such ‘cool’ cops”. Proud would be the understatement of all time. I believe that the “coolest” cops on the planet make up the San Francisco Police Department and it is really nice to hear when other folks take notice and say so.

With the above in mind, thank you again for the sacrifices you make, especially in these times of such short staffing, in coming to work and doing what you’re asked to do better than any other cops anywhere.

On another note and in closing, as we head into the Holiday Season (that’s right it’s November already), in addition to contributing what you can to the Combined Charities Campaign (thank you to Captain John Sanford for Chairing this year’s drive) think about  personally doing something special this year for someone less fortunate than you. Something no one else might ever know about...but you’ll know.  There is a child, or family, on your beat or in your sector that you have come across or will come across that doesn’t have much of a Holiday Season to look forward to. If each of us would personally commit to changing that for just one child, or family, we could change the holidays for 2000+ people in this City. How cool would that be! A Thanksgiving Dinner for a family would be a big, but a small gift for a child that might not otherwise get it. It wouldn’t be much to do but would be HUGE for that child. Think about it. No one is keeping track; but I know some, if not all of you, will choose to do something. How do I know this? Because it’s who we are at the SFPD – men and women for others…doesn’t get any better than that.

Take Care and Be safe out there,

Oro en Paz Fierro en Guerra

Greg Suhr

Chief of Police, San Francisco Police Department