SAN DIEGO POLICE URGING PEOPLE TO REPORT ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES

Chief, DA at forum focus on community of Kearny Mesa

San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit and San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan on Thursday implored business owners and residents in Kearny Mesa to report anti-asian hate crimes.

Nisleit expressed concern that many hate crimes — and hate incidents — go unreported. “I’m begging you and asking you to report that, please,” Nisleit told the crowd during an Public Safety Symposium hosted by Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilman Chris Cate, whose district includes Kearny Mesa.

The neighborhood is home to a large number of Asian American and Pacific Islander residents and businesses, a demographic that has been the target of a surge in hate crimes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reporting hate inci- dents, which don’t rise to the level of a crime, is just as important as reporting hate crimes, Nisleit and Stephan said during the symposium, which was held in a parking lot on Convoy Street and livestreamed online. They said hate incidents may involve someone who has plans to commit a crime. Reports of hate incidents allow police to investigate and possibly prevent crimes.

Last year, the District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges in three anti-asian hate crime cases, all three referred to the office by San Diego police, Stephan said.

The caseload marked a spike from the three previous years, a period in which prosecutors didn’t receive any cases alleging antiasian hate crimes.

“We are not going to tolerate this,” Stephan said.

Hate crimes have a “ripple effect” on entire communities, not just the victims, and “that’s not acceptable,” she said.

Nisleit, who was joined by a handful of officers, said ensuring the public feels comfortable reporting hate crimes to the Police Department is a top priority for him.

“We need to know about it,” the chief told the crowd. “My promise to you is that we will do everything we can in our investigative powers to bring a case forward.”

Officials said officers walked around the Little Saigon District of City Heights to share tips and other information last week, and they plan to visit Linda Vista and Mira Mesa in the coming weeks.

San Diego police Officers David Gibson and John Steffen shared some safety tips Thursday. Gibson told business owners to move cash from cash registers to safes or banks at the end of the day, remove signs from windows so officers can spot any intruders, leave lights on, and remove rocks and bricks that could be used to break in. He also told them to consider alarms and surveillance cameras, among other tips.

Steffen told residents to not open their doors to strangers, post no-soliciting signs and, when out and about, to stand back from people who ask for directions. He also urged victims of a crime to scream for help and run away without fighting back unless they need to defend themselves.