COMMUNITY TRAINING

       
Castro Community On Patrol (CCOP), in collaboration with our long-time safety partner Community Patrol Service (CPS) is committed to offering FREE community safety training and classes in a variety of important areas.
In APRIL of 2023 we have scheduled an ‘Active Shooter’ Basic Training Class on 04/20/2023 at Most Holy Redeemer Church in the heart of the Castro neighborhood, and we have scheduled our ever popular ‘Beginners Self-Defense’ Training Class on 04/29/2023 at The Academy SF on Market Street.  Check out our COMMUNITY SAFETY page for more information and links to pre-register for these training classes.
Click below to view some news media coverage of our prior ‘Active Shooter – Terrorist Incident – Event Protection’ training class on December 21, 2022.

GIVE US JUST 3 HOURS A MONTH

Castro Community On Patrol (CCOP), a program of San Francisco Safety Awareness For Everyone (SF-SAFE), seeks new volunteers to help patrol the Castro neighborhood on a monthly basis.
CCOP has successfully patrolled the Castro neighborhood for over 15 years, deploying teams of three unpaid volunteer Patrollers for a 3-hour shift which they select themselves.
Our patrols offer assistance, information, guidance, and support to the residents, businesses, and visitors of the Castro, interacting with thousands of people every year. We are “First Reporters” by calling in Medical, Fire, or Law Enforcement professionals when needed, and we will offer assistance when safe to do so until the professionals arrive.
CCOP also assists other community groups to make their events successful, and we are often a part of the developing history of the LGBTQQI+ community. In the past we’ve assisted at PROP8 events, Pulse Nightclub rallies, Harvey Milk Memorial annual events, and many others. We also assist at regular community events by providing safety volunteers such as Sisters Easter in the Park, SF Pride safety events, Castro Street Fair, Santa Skivvies Run, PRC Holiday Dinner and many more.
Our volunteers are mostly members of the LGBTQQI community, but we are open and welcoming to ALL who want to donate just three hours a month to help keep the Castro neighborhood a little safer.
We will provide full training (by Zoom during the current COVID pandemic) and you will deploy with experienced senior volunteers. Patrolling is fun, you get to meet lots of people, and you can feel good about helping out the community.

JOIN US / TRAIN WITH US

BECOME A PATROL VOLUNTEER

We will provide the training and uniform items.  All we ask in return is that you patrol once a month, on a three-hour patrol.  Anyone of 18 years of age or older is welcome.  Click below for more information.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

ATTEND OUR FREE 3-HOUR BEGINNERS COMMUNITY SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING
In light of the attack in Colorado Springs, we are working to establish a class in early 2023.  We will update this space when we secure a date, time, and location for the class.

REGISTRATION PENDING AT THIS TIME

SPECIAL CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TRAINING

Active Shooter – Terrorist Incident – Event Protection Training Class – 01/21/2023 @ 1 PM – open to Businesses, Organizations, and Event organizers. Contact us at INFO@CastroPatrol.org for more details and registration information.

We offer specialized advance training to qualifying LGBTQQI+ and allied corporations and community organizations.  This training includes 6-class Self-Defense Training,  Active Shooter & Terrorist Incident Training,  Event Protection Training.  Contact us at INFO@CastroPatrol.org to discuss your specific needs.

KEEPING THE COMMUNITY
SAFE SINCE 2006

We deliver several KEY programs to help improve and enhance the “fabric of safety” for the neighborhood including:

  • COPS – Community On Patrol Service program which trains, certifies, and deploys volunteers on regular neighborhood patrols, much like a normal neighborhood watch but with “boots on the ground” walking and interacting with residents, employees, and visitors.
  • CRESt – Community Response, Engagement, and Support  program which brings emergent community volunteers together with our trained Patrollers to assist other community groups and organizations with their special events, rally’s, marches and so on. Through this program our Patrollers also engage directly in the management of other community benefit efforts such as the Castro Cares program, Castro Merchants, Stop The Violence program, etc.
  • CET – Community Education  and Training program which develops training classes and outreach materials on a number of safety topics which are typically provided FREE to anyone seeking them.  This program includes our FREE Community Self-Defense classes and our FREE safety whistle distribution efforts.
  • CBW – Castro Business Watch program which we manage and organize.  The CBW is very much like a residents neighborhood watch, except this one is uniquely for businesses to share information and exchange ideas.

We also work diligently to share relevant information and concerns, ensuring the appropriate people, groups, and entities are involved in finding solutions.

MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY

SAFE SPACE / SAFE PLACE PROGRAMS

Working closely with the San Francisco Police Department, the Castro & Upper Market Merchants Association, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Castro Patrol has promoted and supported the SAFE SPACE program since it was relaunched in 2009.

The SAFE SPACE program is a collaboration between commercial and retail businesses in the Castro who have agreed to offer a “sanctuary” and “SAFE SPACE” within their property to ANYONE who may feel threatened, or unsafe on the street.  The participating partner will give you sanctuary in their property while calling 9-1-1 or other appropriate resources on your behalf.

LOOK FOR THE PINK TRIANGLE SAFE SPACE sign in commercial and retail windows and doorways to identify these participating partners, and please take a moment to thank them for participating and be sure to support them when possible.

The San Francisco Police Department, Community Engagement Division, also recently developed a SAFE PLACE program for the entire city.  Adopting the same concepts as the Castro program, the SFPD provide a RAINBOW POLICE STAR window sign to participating partners – but the program works precisely the same way.

  • Enter any store or business displaying the PINK TRIANGLE SAFE SPACE and/or the RAINBOW POLICE STAR SAFE PLACE window decal and advise them of your safety concern or needs.
  • The participating partner will summon resources as appropriate at your request and will allow you to remain in their facility until responders arrive.

If you are a ground floor commercial or retail business owner who would like to participate as a partner in the SAFE SPACE program, please reach out to us at INFO@CastroPatrol.org if you are located in the Castro neighborhood.  If you are located outside of the Castro neighborhood, please reach out to the SFPD directly at SFPDcommunityRelations@sfgov.org.

“Harvey Milk” SAFETY WHISTLE PROGRAM

MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY

As long as injustice & inequality persist, none of us can truly rest. It doesn’t take much to change a life, Get in touch today and start making the difference.

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