Dear Editor:

I'm aware that the San Francisco Patrol Special Police have today offered our Mayor and Director Ford of MUNI, to provide at least ten of their police officers for additional patrols on MUNI starting immediately. If they have the political willpower and come to their senses, city leaders, our police commission, and our new Police Chief can easily make that happen. Then they can facilitate applications to get even more Patrol Special Officers on our streets and into our buses. Clearly the Patrol Special Police provide employment opportunities in San Francisco, and these supplemental police officers would cost MUNI a pittance (about $48 per hour with no future obligation for expensive pensions or 'pension spiking' by off-duty officers, or overtime pay abuse that our Police Chief has been investigating). In Glen Park after one year of service of a Patrol Special Police officer that some of us merchants and residents hired, we remain very, very satisfied with daily patrols. A certain measure of calm has returned to our Village and we know of many, many small incidents that have been handled by our officer to prevent large, expensive crimes from occurring. This frees up our public police to handle more serious crime. Since I take public transportation, do not own a car, and in view of the recent attacks on passengers, I hesitate to take buses anymore. It's a shame to ruin the reputation of our public transit system and garner bad publicity nationwide as to that matter. I hope city leaders respond positively to the Patrol Special Police offer to provide additional MUNI patrols today! There is no reason not to reply and work affirmatively with the Patrol Special Police who want to help.

Ann Grogan, J.D.
30 yr. resident in Glen Park
2912 Diamond St., Ste. 239
San Francisco, CA 94131