Following is a letter to Visitacion Valley residents and merchants dated Dec. 1.

Dear Visitacion Valley Residents and Merchants:

Approximately three months ago, the Visitacion Valley neighborhood was wholly incorporated into the Ingleside Police District. Previously, the neighborhood had been split in half, with two different police districts sharing responsibility for its policing. Since this change was made, the police officers from Ingleside Station have made it a priority to be present and available in Visitacion Valley generally, and in the commercial area of Leland Avenue specifically.

In addition, two bilingual officers fluent in Chinese have been assigned to work with the merchants and residents of Leland Avenue in an effort to increase safety and to implement community policing in the neighborhood. These officers, Marc Chan and Simon Chan, are assigned to the neighborhood from Monday to Friday, and work hours that range from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. A neighborhood homeowner has been generous enough to loan these officers the use of garage space at 120 Leland Ave. for purposes of establishing a storefront Resource Center in the commercial area.

This resource center is a place in the community where the officers can take and write police reports, and complete other necessary paperwork. Additionally, several bilingual crime information pamphlets are also available in the Resource Center, and we hope to eventually utilize it as a gathering place for neighborhood meetings. The Resource Center will generally be staffed from Monday through Friday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and at any other times the officers have the need to complete paperwork or to make phone calls, etc. The phone number at the center is 585-2675, and messages can be left for the officers when they are not currently in the center. Remember that you must still dial 9-1-1 for any emergencies.

In an effort to hear firsthand about crime and  quality of life issues in the neighborhood, we would like to begin to have monthly meetings with the residents of Visitacion Valley. Our first meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 1999, at 7 p.m. at 120 Leland Ave. We hope to see you there.

Captain Rick Bruce
Ingleside Police Station