San Francisco residents have a rare opportunity to change the way the Police Department works. Through April 15, The City is conducting a survey through the Safety Network Program group to determine what concerns people have and how to best improve safety in their neighborhood.

Safety Network representatives also have been visiting neighborhood gathering spots and meetings to gauge the concerns of residents and businesspeople.

Will this survey solve neighborhood crime issues? Not by itself, unfortunately. But it’s important because it helps The City understand what worries the people who live and work throughout San Francisco and can help direct resources toward the most significant problems. It also could help police better understand what the people on their beats are thinking about, and lead to better relations between police and the community.

The deadline for submitting the surveys is Friday, April 15. A report on all the survey results is expected at the end of May. To obtain a copy of the survey, call Safety Network at 202-7940 or visit http://safetynetwork.org.