Serial Auto Burglar Gets Prison Time After Judge Rethinks Deal Seen As Lenient

October 4, 2018 Joel Engardio

Defendant Deshawn Patton and Judge Christopher Hite.

Stop Crime SF and our Court Watch program was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle when one of San Francisco’s most prolific car burglars was finally sentenced to state prison in a case we followed. Our advocacy had an impact. Before Stop Crime SF got involved and before the media started paying attention to this case, the judge was planning to let the defendant off on probation (even after he had been arrested for new crimes while already on probation). The latest FBI crime statistics show San Francisco ranks #1 in property crime in the nation. Stop Crime SF has a Court Watch program to ensure that judges take crime seriously in San Francisco. Thanks to the San Francisco Chronicle for covering this case and mentioning the work of Stop Crime SF.

CBS Channel 2 Features Stop Crime SF September 2018

September 28, 2018 Joel Engardio

Stop Crime SF is a group of San Franciscans working together to reduce and prevent crime in our neighborhoods while holding public officials and the criminal justice system accountable.

Join stop crime sf

Who's Watching the Judges?

August 30, 2018 Joel Engardio

Smashed glass on curbs and sidewalks is the new normal in San Francisco with tens of thousands of car break-ins reported annually. Our criminal justice system needs the right incentives for offenders to change their behavior. Lawbreakers need to know they will be held accountable if they violate the terms of probation. And judges need to know citizens are watching. Read our full OpEd published in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Second chances? How about 11? SF judge takes property crime leniency to new level

August 10, 2018 Joel Engardio

Defendant Deshawn Patton and Judge Christopher Hite.

Stop Crime SF and our Court Watch program was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle. Columnist Heather Knight highlighted the egregious case of a repeat offender and lenient judge we had long been following.

Crime Forum with District Attorney George Gascon

June 29, 2018 Joel Engardio

District Attorney George Gascon and Stop Crime SF board member Nancy Tung discuss the impact of Prop 47 and San Francisco's property crime problem before a full house in the SHARP community room.

You Think Crime Is Bad Now? Judicial Election Could Make It Worse

May 29, 2018 Joel Engardio

Four incumbent judges (top row) are being challenged in the June 5 election by four criminal defense attorneys (bottom row).

So you think crime is bad now? San Francisco’s epidemic of car break-ins and home burglaries could get worse after the June 5 election — if voters approve a judicial coup attempt by four criminal defense attorneys. They want to “change our justice system from the inside out,” and not for the better if you are a potential victim. San Francisco's courts are already too soft. Retain the incumbent judges if you don't want to see even more property crimes.

DA George Gascon Defends Prosecution Record at Crime Forum

May 3, 2018 Joel Engardio

District Attorney George Gascon and police Captain Robert Yick discuss the property crime epidemic in San Francisco with Stop Crime SF vice president Joel Engardio

District Attorney George Gascon and police Captain Robert Yick discuss the property crime epidemic in San Francisco with Stop Crime SF vice president Joel Engardio on a public safety panel. Solving this complex problem will require every part of the criminal justice system working hard together. Gascon answered many engaging questions from the Westside audience.

Proposed Police Budget Needs Support

April 20, 2018 Joel Engardio

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott

An open letter to the supervisors on City Hall's Budget and Finance Committee requesting support for Police Chief Bill Scott's 2018-19 budget.

Mayor Farrell: Please Fund the Police for Success

March 28, 2018 Joel Engardio

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott and Mayor Mark Farrell

Open letter to Mayor Farrell — San Franciscans need you to address the daily nightmare we face with record-high property crime and car-break ins. As you determine the city's budget, please fund our police department for success. Community policing alone is not the solution. Please remember the need for centralized investigative capability when funding the SFPD.

Crime Victims Have Rights, Too

March 23, 2018 Joel Engardio

Marsy’s Law contains 17 rights that victims have in the criminal justice system — one of them is the right to be informed of all of these rights. Too often, this never happens. That’s why Stop Crime SF wants all victims to know their rights.

A Practical Taser Policy: Why We Support Prop H

March 15, 2018 Joel Engardio

Stop Crime SF supports Proposition H on the June 2018 ballot. This practical Taser policy takes the politics out of neighborhood safety.

Where Should Resources Go to Fight the Auto Burglary Epidemic?

February 26, 2018 Joel Engardio

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon is asking for an additional $1 million to fight an epidemic of car break-ins. Would this be money well spent?

ABC Channel 7 Features Stop Crime SF February 2018

February 18, 2018 Joel Engardio

Our community meeting led the local TV news on ABC. The epidemic of car break-ins was the topic and state assemblymember Phil Ting spoke about legislative solutions. Stop Crime SF is a group of San Franciscans working together to reduce and prevent crime in our neighborhoods while holding public officials and the criminal justice system accountable.

Sunset Beacon Report on Tony Ribera Meeting

February 18, 2018 Joel Engardio

Sunset Beacon coverage of Stop Crime SF community meeting with former San Francisco police chief Tony Ribera. February 2018.

Westside Observer Report on Tony Ribera Meeting

February 18, 2018 Joel Engardio

Westside Observer coverage of Stop Crime SF community meeting with former San Francisco police chief Tony Ribera. February 2018.

Finally, Neighborhood-Policing for Car Break-Ins

January 9, 2018 Joel Engardio

San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott (center) with Supervisors Norman Yee (left) and Hillary Ronen (right)

Stop Crime SF applauds Police Chief Bill Scott’s announcement to assign officers in San Francisco neighborhoods dedicated to car break-ins. Our members spoke at City Hall to express the frustration and fear we feel in the neighborhoods. Stop Crime SF supports a focused strategy to fight property crime that has reached epidemic proportions.

"The Time for Tasers Is Now"

December 4, 2017 Joel Engardio

Stop Crime SF supports a practical, easy-to-understand taser policy that saves lives and protects suspects, officers and their respective families from trauma due to unnecessary officer-involved shootings.

SF Homicides, Assaults Down — But Questions Persist in Duboce Triangle

December 4, 2017 Joel Engardio

Duboce Triangle homes

The quiet Duboce Triangle neighborhood was hit with two homicides and a series of severe assaults in recent years — even as violent crime in San Francisco has gone down. But information about solving the Duboce Triangle crimes has been hard to come by. Guest post by Erik Honda, vice president of the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association.

A Letter to Phil Ting: Please Close Crime Loopholes

November 27, 2017 Joel Engardio

Assemblymember Phil Ting

Stop Crime SF wrote a letter to Assemblymember Phil Ting, asking him to support legislation that will close loopholes in California crime statutes. Many Stop Crime SF members live on San Francisco's westside, which has seen a marked rise in car break-ins and property crime. Ting represents the western half of San Francisco in the state assembly. We are asking Ting to support some much-needed changes to state law that will modernize the penal code and make it harder for criminals to get away with car break-ins that have become all too common in San Francisco.

Stop Crime SF Helps Pass Two Public Safety Laws

October 10, 2017 Joel Engardio

Stop Crime SF was instrumental in the passage of two public safety ordinances at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the fall of 2017. We focused on our city's epidemic of burglarized cars and broken windows — the highest in the nation.