Officer Elizabeth Prillinger speaks with John about an issue with his car registration in mid-October. Prillinger is on a first-name basis with most of the residents of the Haight-Ashbury where she patrols, and John was proof of that when he ran up to her, saying, “Hey Lily, I need your help with something.” Photo by Nikka Singh.
Covering the Police is a collaboration with UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism.
Officer Elizabeth Prillinger walks her foot beat on Haight Street in mid-October. While all of her interactions that day were more like catching up with friends, Stan Flouride, a local tour guide and painter, said, “I’ve seen her tackle a shoplifter in the street, so she’s tough. She knows everyone’s names and she treats them like neighbors.” Photo by Nikka Singh.
Officer Prillinger catches up with Bianca and her daughter, Ezra. Prillinger plays with Ezra, and names out various stones the little girl has in her rock collection. Photo by Nikka Singh.
Officer Prillinger speaks with a group of homeless young people in mid-October. While San Francisco has a sit-lie ordinance that does not allow individuals to sleep on the streets, Officer Prillinger, who has gone through Crisis Intervention Training, first assesses the health of a man she finds lying on the sidewalk. After speaking with him, she allows him to rest rather than issuing him a citation before he moves on. Photo by Nikka Singh
A group of tourists who were issued a parking citation ask Officer Prillinger if there is any way out of the ticket. Photo by Nikka Singh
A tourist takes a photo with Officers Prillinger, Lewis, and Henry. Photo by Nikka Singh
Officer Prillinger pets Times’ puppy. “She’s the ideal community ambassador,” said Times, who has known officer Prillinger for some time. Photo by Nikka Singh
Above officer Prillinger’s nameplate is her Crisis Intervention Training badge, which means that she has been trained to better assist and respond to people suffering from mental health or the physical impacts associated with homelessness. Photo by Nikka Singh
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