San Diego County Grand Jury • 2024-2025

The Gaslamp Enforcement Team Needs the Community’s Help!

Published: May 21, 2025 20 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 3 findings

F01

Building confidence in public safety in the Gaslamp requires a concerted effort by day and nighttime Gaslamp Enforcement Teams. Fact: According to media reports, some members of the public perceive Gaslamp Enforcement Team officers as overly aggressive when responding to crime in the Gaslamp area. Fact: Frequently, perception is reality, and consequently, negative publicity coupled with a negative perception can make it more difficult for police officers to do their job.

F02

By adhering to the Neighborhood Policing policy and patrolling on bicycles during daylight hours, the Gaslamp Enforcement Team has the opportunity through community outreach to build the types of relationships with residents, visitors, and businesses that lead to crime reduction and trust in law enforcement. Fact: Crimes against persons and society have increased in the Gaslamp Quarter in the past three years. Fact: The San Diego Police Department is experiencing staff shortages.

F03

The rise in crime combined with SDPD staff shortages make it even more critical for SDPD to garner the help of community members in reducing crime in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Recommendations 2

R4

Direct the Gaslamp Enforcement Team to build trust by being more approachable and available to Gaslamp Quarter residents, visitors, and business owners with the objectives of deterring and preventing crime. The 2024/2025 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that City Council and Mayor of San Diego:
R5

Appropriate additional funding and resources to the SDPD to allow maximization of the number of officers patrolling on bicycles in the Gaslamp to include a dayshift, five days a week and on weekends and holidays. REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS The California Penal Code §933(c) requires any public agency which the Grand Jury has reviewed, and about which it has issued a final report, to comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of 13 the agency. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the Grand Jury publishes its report (filed with the Clerk of the Court); except that in the case of a report containing findings and recommendations pertaining to a department or agency headed by an elected County official (e.g. District Attorney, Sheriff, etc.), such comment shall be made to the Presiding Judge with an information copy sent to the Board of Supervisors. Furthermore, California Penal Code §933.05(a), (b), (c), details, as follows, the manner in which such comment(s) are to be made: (a) As to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following: (1) The respondent agrees with the finding. (2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefor. (b) As to each grand jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report one of the following actions: (1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the implemented action. (2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future, with a time frame for implementation. (3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a time frame for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed, including the governing body of the public agency when applicable. This time frame shall not exceed six months from the date of publication of the grand jury report. (4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefor. (c) If a 14

Conclusions 4

CL1

Building confidence in public safety in the Gaslamp requires a concerted effort by day and nighttime Gaslamp Enforcement Teams. Fact: According to media reports, some members of the public perceive Gaslamp Enforcement Team officers as overly aggressive when responding to crime in the Gaslamp area. Fact: Frequently, perception is reality, and consequently, negative publicity coupled with a negative perception can make it more difficult for police officers to do their job.
CL2

By adhering to the Neighborhood Policing policy and patrolling on bicycles during daylight hours, the Gaslamp Enforcement Team has the opportunity through community outreach to build the types of relationships with residents, visitors, and businesses that lead to crime reduction and trust in law enforcement. 12 Fact: Crimes against persons and society have increased in the Gaslamp Quarter in the past three years. Fact: The San Diego Police Department is experiencing staff shortages.
CL3

The rise in crime combined with SDPD staff shortages make it even more critical for SDPD to garner the help of community members in reducing crime in the Gaslamp Quarter.
CL4

The Grand Jury appreciates the vast amount of work that goes into policing and recognizes law enforcement’s vast authority and power: Authority not just to stop, detain, question, search and arrest individuals, but also the power to mitigate and resolve conflicts, and prevent crime and disorder. With the community’s help and robust in-view bicycle patrolling, the Gaslamp Enforcement Team has the ability and responsibility to help keep the Gaslamp safe and maintain its world-class destination status. FACT/FINDINGS Fact: Public safety is a major consideration for residents, businesses as well as tourists seeking entertainment in the Gaslamp. Finding 01: Building confidence in public safety in the Gaslamp requires a concerted effort by day and nighttime Gaslamp Enforcement Teams. Fact: According to media reports, some members of the public perceive Gaslamp Enforcement Team officers as overly aggressive when responding to crime in the Gaslamp area. Fact: Frequently, perception is reality, and consequently, negative publicity coupled with a negative perception can make it more difficult for police officers to do their job. Finding 02: By adhering to the Neighborhood Policing policy and patrolling on bicycles during daylight hours, the Gaslamp Enforcement Team has the opportunity through community outreach to build the types of relationships with residents, visitors, and businesses that lead to crime reduction and trust in law enforcement. 12 Fact: Crimes against persons and society have increased in the Gaslamp Quarter in the past three years. Fact: The San Diego Police Department is experiencing staff shortages. Finding 03: The rise in crime combined with SDPD staff shortages make it even more critical for SDPD to garner the help of community members in reducing crime in the Gaslamp Quarter.