How SFPD plans to deal with this year's Mission Dolores ‘Hill Bomb'

( KRON ) - Every year, San Francisco skateboarders gather in the city's Mission District to ride down a hill rather quickly. People call it the "Dolores Hill Bomb." It symbolizes a celebration of the skating counter-culture, or as they would call it, culture.

This year, skaters planned to gather on July 6. The San Francisco Police Department, however, thought otherwise.

Throughout the years, the event has garnered a problematic reputation among residents. In 2017, skateboarders fought with police officers. In 2020, a cyclist died after a skateboarder collided with him. In 2022, a man was stabbed at the Hill Bomb event.

In last year's Hill Bomb, over 100 SFPD officers arrested 80 people, with 32 people taken into custody after skateboarders were reportedly seen vandalizing private property and MUNI buses. This led to four teenagers filing a federal lawsuit alleging wrongful detainment and violation of their rights.

On Monday, SFPD Police Chief Bill Scott led a community meeting after anonymous organizers planned a Hill Bomb for this Saturday. “Unfortunately, the organizers have never sought a permit or reached out to SFPD or the City," Scott said, ensuring residents that police would be present at the unsanctioned event.

Much of the debate regarding Monday's meeting was not about whether the event should occur-as it most probably will-but since skaters have alleged a civil rights violation in the past, the meeting was more about how police should appropriately deal with the hill bombers if things were to get out of hand.

Several days before the meeting, SFPD submitted a barricade request for the Dolores Hill Bomb "to block off pedestrian traffic," the memorandum wrote. These barricades would stretch across all intersections within 21 Street to 18 Street. Police are also requesting barricades on Church Street, according to the memo. There will also be "road closed signs" on stands.

“If anyone chooses to break the law, the SFPD will not hesitate to make arrests,” said SFPD spokesperson Eve Laokwansathitaya. “We will do the same this year if necessary," she added.

Aside from warning lawbreakers, SFPD said parents should be "aware of their children’s whereabouts and understand the consequences of committing crimes like violence and vandalism.”

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