Just a few cops cover San Franciscos largest police district

Taraval Station, covering 10. 8 square miles and serving 153,000 residents, operates with only 51 sworn officers, far below the recommended staffing of 120. Despite a 38% decrease in reported crimes from 2019 to 2023, residents voice concerns over slow response times to high-priority calls. The district has the longest response time for “priority A calls” among all San Francisco police districts, with officers often pulled from quieter areas to cover events elsewhere in the city. District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar advocates for reducing the district's size or adding mini-stations, but immediate changes are unlikely.

This year, Taraval recorded 127 violent crimes, markedly fewer than the Ingleside District's 200 and Bayview's 269. However, response times for urgent calls have increased significantly, from 6 to 10. 7 minutes, raising community policing concerns. Officer Drewkai Butler noted the impact of staffing shortages on foot patrols, requiring officers to abandon their beats for urgent calls. As community members await improvements, the ongoing staffing challenges highlight the need for a strategic reassessment of police resource allocation.