This month we recognize and honor our military veterans. What began in 1919 as the commemoration of the peace obtained by "the war to end all wars," became the day we salute and thank all those who defend and serve this country for their duty and bravery.  Sadly, many veterans returning from the recent Mideast wars suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries. Too often, these same individuals must face unemployment, mental health issues, and problems with substance abuse, making them vulnerable to the conditions that result in contact with the criminal justice system.

At any given time, there are approximately 50 former veterans incarcerated in San Francisco's jails. The Community of Veterans Engaged in Restoration (COVER) is a San Francisco Sheriff's Department program designed for veterans of all the branches of the United States military. The COVER program provides veterans, regardless of the character of their discharge, with an opportunity to address their obstacles in order to successfully reintegrate into their families and communities after military service, through in-jail and post release case management services, and links to supporting agencies. But we, as grateful citizens, must do more to provide the necessary services and support to returning veterans before they become incarcerated. 

On November 6, we presented our preliminary findings as part of our ongoing investigation into the tragic death of Ms. Lynne Spalding Ford at San Francisco General Hospital. It is our obligation to help the family of Ms. Spalding Ford to find closure regarding the circumstances surrounding her death. It is also our duty to acknowledge the service we perform at SFGH, and any missteps originating with our operations there.  To that end, I've assigned Captain Kenneth Ferrigno over the Institutional Patrol Unit, who shall report directly to me, to help us assess deficiencies and recommend corrections with security operations at SFGH. We'll keep you posted.

Finally, we congratulate Captain Lisette Adams and Lieutenant John Ramirez on their graduation from California's P.O.S.T. Law Enforcement Command College....I also encourage all to take part in our new FIT Program (thank you Captain Michelle Fisher)...We welcome our 22 new deputy recruits, the first class since 2009, and wish them well as they enter the academy and looking forward to their long, productive careers in law enforcement.

WOW! (What One Woman) Can Do

In October 2013, Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi sponsored a teaching and theater event at the Women's Resource Center (WRC) at 930 Bryant Street, inviting the women served by the Women's Resource Center to learn more about Breast Cancer.
  

The theme for the event was WOW!: What one woman can do to keep herself and her family healthier. Featured speakers included Mary McGinty and her team, who drove the Mammo-van to the Center. She talked about choices a woman can make to reduce her risk of breast cancer. These choices include regular breast examinations, three exercise sessions a week (walking counts!!), more fruits and vegetables and less food high in animal fat. Juana Thomas of Glide talked about her experiences as a breast cancer survivor. She stresses that the important thing to do is not to give up hope, to keep on walking, and as a symbol of that, she invited everyone to join her in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraising walkathon on Saturday, October 26th, 2013.

Part two of a series of articles that will serve to inform and educate the public on the San Francisco Sheriff's Department - Community Programs.

The Women's Resource Center (WRC) offers gender-responsive, trauma-informed programs for women who have been impacted by criminal justice involvement. 
An estimated 150 women are incarcerated daily in San Francisco, with thousands more in the state prison system. 

Many clients who attend the WRC come on a voluntary basis so that they can gain skills and resources to achieve and maintain safe and healthy lifestyles. Others are referred by the courts, parole agents and other partner agencies. 

The WRC is located at 930 Bryant Street. Several years ago, the site was renovated through a community effort utilizing volunteers and donated goods. WRC offers a warm and welcoming environment. On-site services range from life skills and relapse prevention classes to clothing for job interviews and tickets for cultural events in the Bay Area. WRC also provides counseling on overcoming barriers to reentry, such as clearing up criminal records. 

The WRC offers a safe, dignified place for all. To achieve this, WRC collaborates with numerous community-based organizations. Many WRC staff members have personal life experiences not unlike that of the clients served. Because of this they serve as role models and empathetic mentors to clients who want to change their lives. It is all about giving back to the communities that really need it.

Fitness Incentive Training comes to SFSD

It was a humid 94° afternoon in Dallas, Texas. Lt. Kathy Devoy pulled out her phone to check the weather app. When would it be cool enough for a run?  Apparently, never. The temperature never fell below 82° during the next 24 hours - or, for that matter, for the rest of the week. 

Captain Fisher and Lt. Devoy were sweltering in the Dallas heat to attend the "Law Enforcement / Public Safety Fitness Specialist" class at the renowned Cooper Institute. They were learning how to develop and deliver a physical fitness testing program. 

The MSA has reached agreement with the City to implement a Pilot Fitness Incentive Testing (FIT) Program. This program will provide MSA members the semiannual opportunity to take a physical fitness test, earning up to twenty FIT hours each testing period. 

The tests consist of a 1.5 mile run (or, 3 mile walk), a 60-second bent-knee sit-up test and a 60-second push-up test. 

Rest assured that the age and gender-based standards do not require Ironman levels of fitness. (In fact, Lt. Devoy has never been happier to be in her fifties; if she can run just under a ten-minute mile, she will receive full points for the running portion of the test.) 

Members have time to work on their strength and endurance before the start of testing in April 2014.
Thanks go out to Captains Fisher and Ideta and Assistant Sheriff Miyamoto who, over the years, have worked toward the development of this program.

With its implementation, members are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise, healthy eating and annual physicals.

In September 2013, a number of deputized staff members and civilians rode in the third annual Tour de Fuzz bike ride held in Sonoma County. The ride began and ended in Santa Rosa. Most of us rode in the 100k (65 mile) ride, and a few cruised along in the 25 mile ride. 

The ride benefits the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Foundation (LECF). The LECF helps communities throughout North America establish their own law
enforcement chaplaincy service or improve upon existing services. Both routes toured the beautiful wine country of Sonoma County which consists of not only wineries but also rolling hills dotted with oak trees. We cruised along busy state highways and the road less traveled.

The scenery distracted those of us who hadn't ridden in a while from the aches and pains. We stopped at the two rest stops for refills on energy drinks and quick bites of peanut butter sandwiches, orange quarters and other energy-providing foods. 

Upon the conclusion of our ride, we were served a barbeque lunch.  The pulled pork was delicious! Some of us took advantage of the bike washing that was on-site while others relaxed with the free massages. 

Overall, we had a great ride and are looking forward to next year. If you ride, come out and join us, and if you don't, come out and volunteer.

Recruit Deputy Sheriffs on their way to the Academy
 

On Monday, November 4, 2013, the department welcomed twenty-two recruit Deputy Sheriffs as new employees. This is the first entry level academy class since 2009.

Their hiring is the culmination of a process that commenced over six months ago, and involved the collaborative efforts of Personnel, Backgrounds Investigations and the Training Units.

Consisting of eight females and fourteen males, the class will attend an intensive, two week pre-academy training conducted by the Training Unit in preparation for the up-coming basic academy at the South Bay Regional Training Consortium in San Mateo, on Monday, November 18, 2013.

The pre-academy will focus on perishable skills, such as firearms training, emergency driving, defensive tactics, physical fitness along with academic classes like report writing and communications.

When they attend the academy, they will be joined by other recruits from various Bay Area law enforcement agencies along with a handful of self- sponsored recruits. 

We wish all of them success in passing the academy, and hope to see all twenty two graduate on Thursday, May 15, 2014.