> I also struggle to remember ever seeing an SFPD officer patrolling this neighborhood (two blocks from a major police station) on foot.
Footbeats have been cut back from pretty much all police incl. in Europe.
Policing(even moreso with reduced personnel) is more reactive than preventative. Getting from A to B and dealing with issue in B is generally quicker and safer by vehicle than having somebody run to B and then dealing with issue. Limited energy stores etc.
It's hot even reactive, when it comes to property crime. Police don't respond to property crimes below a Grand Theft threshold; they just have you file a police report online, and that is only used for insurance purposes.
Footbeats have been cut back from pretty much all police incl. in Europe.
Policing(even moreso with reduced personnel) is more reactive than preventative. Getting from A to B and dealing with issue in B is generally quicker and safer by vehicle than having somebody run to B and then dealing with issue. Limited energy stores etc.