The San Diego Police Department is losing ground, not gaining it, when it comes to having enough sworn officers to keep San Diego safe, falling 846 officers short of staffing goals, according to a report presented at a city council committee meeting Thursday.
This is not a new issue. The shortage of sworn officers in San Diego was described as a crisis in 2006. The latest report shows things could be getting worse – not better.
Sworn officers are retiring, taking experience with them. Others are leaving for higher paying jobs in other agencies.
"We've had to reduce investigative units such as vice, auto theft, gangs, narcotics and domestic violence,” said Jeff Jordan, Vice President of the San Diego Police Officers Association.
Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said during the last fiscal year, 160 officers were hired, but 162 left. That's a net loss of two officers.
The department, she said, is 846 officers below the budgeted staffing despite efforts to recruit and restore holiday pay, uniform and equipment allowance.
Officials have also increased overtime pay.
"Right now all you're doing is treating the symptoms. You haven't gotten to the cause, and the cause is compensation," said Jordan.
San Diego City Councilman Mark Kersey said: "We've only got so much money."
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However, he agreed the problem is a top priority, along with infrastructure and other city needs.
The chief understands, but if the trend continues, she worries about the crime rate.
"Yes, we're holding, but if we continue to lose the amount of officers we do every single year with the experience, my concern is not only is it going to go up, but it will continue to be unsafe as we go down this road,” said Zimmerman.
The report was done by the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst and presented to the council’s Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee.
