Police chief's disconnect from violent crime tragedy

September 18, 9:29 AMSF Politics ExaminerArthur Bruzzone

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San Francisco is on a pace to reach a near record 115 murders for 2008.

Meanwhile, San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong announces that she’s "very pleased with the success that has resulted,” referring to a program to confront violent crime in five high crime neighborhoods. 

The most recent victim, a cyclist, was murdered in the Richmond District.  It was NOT one of the five neighborhoods targeted. 

For the chief, it’s about numbers, it appears,  not the human tragedy--- statistics without names. That disconnect only perpetuates the city’s culture of street violence. 

For the record, the most recent victims include Jordan McKay, 23, Royshawn Holden, 23, Caprisha Green, 19, and Jamal Beasley 24.  Note their ages.  Also note that, with the exception of McKay,  each was shot to death in the chief’s targeted neighborhoods within the last five days. 

Here are more numbers for the chief:  When the Police Chief Fong assumed duties in 2003:  the city recorded 69 homicides;  last year, 98.  Aggravated assaults have risen from 2,376 to 2,418, robberies up from 3,065 to 3,771, and total violent crimes up from 5,725 to 6,412 (for the years 2003 and 2007).

Each violent crime is a violation of public safety, no matter in which neighborhood it occurs.