September 22, 2009

“The men and women of the San Diego Police Department are currently protecting the citizens of San Diego at the lowest per capita staffing levels in the history of our Department. In fact, San Diego has more than 250 vacancies. This occurs at a time when police departments in cities such as Dallas and Phoenix, which are comparable in population, size and demographics to San Diego, have substantially more - or even nearly double - the amount of officers than the City of San Diego. Dallas Police Department has approximately 3,000 officers and Phoenix Police Department has approximately 3,500 officers while the San Diego Police Department functions with a mere 1,800 officers.


Yesterday, the City of San Diego informed all Department Directors there is an “absolute hiring freeze” for all vacant General Fund supported positions. Of great concern to the San Diego Police Officers Association (POA) is the cancellation of all academies until further notice. The San Diego Police Department has today informed the POA the October Police Academy is scheduled to continue; however, this will only produce approximately less than one-fifth the amount of officers this department desperately needs to meet its minimum staffing levels. Our 1,800 member department cannot simply absorb any further cuts, layoffs or hiring freeze. Such actions would directly threaten public safety.

As the ninth largest city in the United States, the citizens of San Diego deserve to have a robust and healthy police department versus a department that is well behind on staffing levels when compared to other major metropolitan cities. The San Diego Police Officers Association looks forward to working with the City of San Diego to fill these must-needed vacancies as quickly as possible. Protecting the public is our priority.”

About the San Diego Police Officers Association

The San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA) is the only recognized bargaining unit for the over 1,800 members of the San Diego Police Department. The SDPOA was established in 1912 and incorporated in 1953 to assist San Diego police officers in issues related to wages, hours and working conditions. The SDPOA also aids members and their families in sickness, distress and death, and strives to improve social relations and welfare among the members. The San Diego Police Officers Association members include over 98% of the San Diego Police force and represent all ranks within the department, including the Chief of Police. Visit www.sdpoa.org for more information.