Police Hold Shift Briefings at Franklin Center

Glad to see proactive police work. Keep up the pressure on those gangs until they vanish for good.

Yeah! We need police to be patrolling our neighborhoods, but not through August only, but throughout the year. We need better response times, and more officers on the streets who will get to know and be known by the community on an individual level. That's what we need, not just measures to announce to the press, but actions that will be maintained to better serve the SB community.

The police should patrol these neighborhoods on foot in groups of at least three officers. Three officers strolling by places like Pennywise Market on a regular basis and "interviewing" loiterers would quickly end the "hanging out" problem. The police would be giving physical notice about whose territory those neighborhoods really are. The Police Department could randomly change the neighborhoods where the foot patrol go so that the gang members won't know where to "hang out."

@Eckermann, you are completely correct. And over on my Westside we have gang issues as well. Bring back the bicycle cops, and the substation on Micheltorena St., and fire Cam Sanchez.

Looks like Oxnard or Fresno around Santa Barbara. I wouldn't move back here if you gave me the Mission. SB used to be the Garden of Eden, now it's just another rat hole with a nice name. Shaved heads, sunglasses, all dressed in black,,, won't get out of the car or mingle with those they are paid to protect. Remind you of anything? Adios SB ,,, nice place to visit,,,but I would never live here again!!!!

I applaud the efforts of the SBPD to get off their POA a$$es and get their hands dirty. Finally, this seems to be a step in the right direction. I think these shift meeting should be at random spots right where the gangs congregate so you never know when they are coming.

The comments here and Oldtimers in particular bring up a good point: Instead of trying to be some elite paramilitary strike force, maybe they should try to be neighborhood cops and they might garner a little more respect around here rather than trying to get on the latest TV episode of some half a$$ police show.

Now that's a smart bimbo!!!! As progressive as SB claimes to be, with intellectuals coming out of every corner of the city, you would think this " Hollywood tv cop look and attitude " would go the way of the " Cowboy Sheriff" . It hasn't worked!!! Law enforcement is a joke played on the citizens who pay in many ways. They( cops) get the retirement benefits , and SB and the rest of America get a gang infested community! It's time for a new plan!

Some of the cops do great work and I applaud their crime fighting and efforts to keep the peace. But I also am dismayed that they waste their time giving senseless jaywalking tickets to college students who cross against the Red Hand at midnight on a (nearly) deserted street, or open container tickets to young (but over 21) people with some booze in their coffee thermos (but who are not drinking), and ignore the disturbing behavior of those who pose an actual threat to public safety. I'm talking about drivers who openly break laws (u-turns in mid block across double yellow lines, parking in front of hydrants, driving with a cell phone up to their ear, ranting), and vagrants who are mentally ill and loud and disturbing. I live on the Eastside and have never had so much as a close encounter with a gang member, but I fear for my safety when I'm downtown on foot.

After 9-11b there began an increased militarization of local law enforcement agencies across the country. Now with (hopeful) withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, the Pentagon has a LOT of excess equipment- and it's getting trickled down to local law enforcement.

I just want to know, who brought the doughnuts, and from where?

Neighborhood policing is exactly what we need. Keep it up!

Well it has been quite a while since 9-11 and while some of the cops actually went over there to get some combat experience, for whatever reason???, you have to wonder if some of the doughnut chowing movie stars don't get that this is NOT Afghanistan, or Iraq. A presence, a face, and some kindness go a lot further than being a bully paramilitary strike force movie star.

They could always rotate the shift change to other areas. There's a lot of gang activity between the Mesa, Samarkand and San Roque disguised at upwardly mobile trendy types in golf shoes on harleys, ducatis, ninjas, porsche and lexusmobiles. The area between the Boathouse and Harrys /Gelsons parking lot area right in front of Adams Elementary School would be a good spot.