Gaslamp Police Presence Gets Mixed Reviews

Visitors to the Gaslamp are seeing a much bigger police presence after recent shootings in the area, but not everybody's happy about the situation.

Police told Gaslamp Quarter representatives this week that they've doubled the amount of police officers on bicycles after two shooting incidents in the area in recent months.

A 21-year-old woman pregnant woman was shot and killed in May and two others were injured in what police have said was a gang-related shooting.  And just this week, a man was shot and killed in the area after allegedly threatening officers with a knife.

Management at the restaurant and Bar Dick's Last Resort said crime doesn't seem to be on the rise, but officers are welcome in dealing with common problems associated with nightlife.

"We sell alcohol here and that leaves the opportunity for people, who aren't very smart, to come down here sometimes, and we've always dealt with them. The fact that we have more police down here, I think it's great," said Dick's Last Resort employee Perri Spiller. 

She also said she believes the ratio of officers to visitors is lower than that of other areas of San Diego such as beaches and says her staff continue to take normal precautions. 

"We still don't let the waitresses walk to their cars by themselves.  But that's what we've always done," Spiller said.

But others were not as happy about the situation.  One woman, who wanted to be identified only as Lauren, said police have been making arrests that aren't necessary. 

"I think a lot of people get picked up for stupid crime. I got arrested for drunk in public and I was just walking out of a bar. A lot of people do," she said.

Still, the main concern is for security.

“I'm cool with.  I'd rather be safe than sorry,” said Sean.

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