In 2007, there were 54 reported hate crimes in the City of San Diego, said Carolyn Kendrick, the San Diego Police Department’s GLBT community liaison, speaking at the LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast, last Friday, at The LGBT Community Center.

The figure includes January to November 2007; crime statistics for December 2007 have yet to be published.

Not including December, reports for 2007 are down by one from the 55 reported for 2006, but still above the 41 reported for 2005, according to a San Diego Police Department statement in a late-2007 San Diego Union-Tribune article. Kendrick spoke about who is committing the crimes, how they are being committed and the city’s response to them. She also, in reviewing the San Diego hate crime reports for 2007, found three major types of hate crime: those that occur during another crime; those incited by current political issues; and those committed by the mentally disabled.

The most prevalent type of hate crimes are “crimes of opportunity,” or hate crimes that emerge while another crime is being committed, a burglary for example, said Kendrick.

Political issues also motivate hate crime, and tend to peak “when we have more or less focused on [political issues] through media, through events. People that have issues with LGBT people tend to act out during these times because it’s brought to the forefront…. Right now, we have immigration issues going on,” said Kendrick.

The SDPD has dubbed a third type of hate crime the “5150s.” “They are typically people that have some type of mental disability, something going on in their mind that they are incensed with addressing the LGBT community verbally and or physically,” said Kendrick, adding that 19 of the 54 hate crimes last year were “5150s,” five of which became physical confrontations.

“Five of the individuals just picked someone off the street and used some type of term or slur, which incited the individual to respond,” said Kendrick.

She advised that, in such a situation, the most appropriate action to take is to not react.

“We need to not respond, because it just ignites the other person to a confrontation,” said Kendrick.

Victims should also report such 5150 crimes, she added, instead of waiting several days, as has often occurred.

But one Hillcrest resident said there’s a reason people don’t report such hate crimes.

“I think it’s a distrust of the police; that’s why people don’t report it,” said Ayesha Newell, member of the Sagon Penn Chapter of Copwatch San Diego.

“We have boys that say they’re harassed by police, that they’re arrested and that they’re called names,” said Newell.

David Surwilo, SDPD community relations officer, responded, “If you’re not happy or you’re feeling uncomfortable with the officer that you have, you can request another officer or speak with a sergeant, and we can get someone there.”

“We’re also very concerned with whether or not we have officers and or employees who have the potential to commit hate crimes or who express themselves or who don’t give equal service to persons in the community,” said Kendrick.

Kendrick says the department will start a new program this February that will help it identify officers who aren’t properly following department policies and procedures, called the Early Identification and Intervention System.

“What this system does is take information from officers’ databases in areas … we believe may help identify whether they’re having some personal issues at home, work, with a supervisor, or with something that is going on that may have subjected them to some traumatizing events where it’s changed their line of policing,” said Kendrick.

After the event, a few attendees gave their response to Kendrick’s presentation. A few said that they hadn’t been aware that there even was a police representative for the community.

“I didn’t know there was a police liaison,” said Newell.

“A lot of people, especially in the trans community are not aware that there are specific officers that they can go to,” said Joselyn Harris, Hillcrest resident.

Knowing, with some reservations, made them feel a bit more at ease, they said.

“I feel like [police harassment] is still a big problem. But it’s good to know where to point some of that towards,” said Newell.

“It’s good to know that the San Diego Police Department makes contact with the LGBT [community]…. As they get to know us, we get to know them,” said Harris.