SDPD’s Groundswell of Humiliations

Oma tries to stay as nonaligned as possible; however some things just leave her scratching her head in stupefaction and screaming for editorial.

Chief Shelley Zimmerman was just promoted to Chief of Police on March 4, 2014

 

Current Situation

Since 2005, more than 800 experienced and qualified San Diego Police Officers have left the department. It was also 2005 when the city started requiring police officers to pay more for their pensions.(Hummmmmmm - a clue mayhaps)

Officer salaries have not increased since 2008; further under the current labor agreement, officers are slated to go a full 10 years without increases . . . . . . . (however, they want to raise the minimum wage from $8 per hour to $13.09?)

At the peak of the San Diego Police Officer exodus, 264 officers, or just over one-tenth of the police force, left in 2009. Many retired that year to avoid a significant cut to their retirement benefits.

Requirements for Employment as a San Diego Police Officers
($26.04 to $28.59 hourly)

General

U.S. citizenship or permanent resident who is eligible and has applied for U.S. citizenship prior to application for employment.

Minimum Age

20 years of age on the day you take the Written Test; 21 at time of Academy graduation (No maximum age limit).

Education

Graduation from a high school located within the United States or a U.S. territory OR passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination OR G.E.D. with scores that meet the California standard established by the American Council on Education OR possession of a two or four year degree from an accredited college or university. (Source)

As a comparison the Requirements for Employment as a San Diego
Probation Officer  ($25.98 - $31.57 Hourly)

General Applicants must be 21 years of age by the time of appointment; AND, Must be a U.S. citizen or in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen; AND, A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency; AND, One (1) year of full-time experience as a Correctional Deputy Probation Officer, or in an equivalent position in the criminal justice system; OR, One (1) year of full-time, paid experience providing functions of treatment counseling, criminal investigation, or as a school teacher (grades K-12) or first-line supervisor in the U.S. military.

Is it really such an astonishment that the San Diego Police Department is suffering through such a groundswell of humiliations?

On a side note - the manner in which the New San Diego Police Chief, Shelley Zimmerman dealt with the latest “alleged” misconduct by one of their officer does not instill confidence in this observer.

“We received the information early yesterday afternoon,” Zimmerman said. “We immediately contacted La Mesa Police Department, because it occurred in their city, and within just several hours after that, I revoked his (the SDPD officer’s) police powers and suspended him without pay. He was booked into jail.”

I am assuming that waiting for the facts was just out of the question!  Does the Police Chief even possess the power to revoke an officer's police powers without any due process?

Chief Shelley Zimmerman - How about we recruit the best, pay enough to keep experienced officers, and show our workforce some respect.