Police Needs

The Times editorial on June 2, “Police Should Relent,” was certainly the least-informed account of the police salary dispute on recent record. In addition to subjective misstatements of fact and obtuse perceptions of events related in your editorial, your comments displayed a contempt for the working police officers of our city by perpetuating a “take-it-or-leave-it” attitude with respect to retaining qualified police officers to protect our citizens.

Your inability to acknowledge the responsibility of outgoing city management in leaving the existing City Council with a need to nearly double the size of the department to achieve minimum staffing is incredible to anyone with a thorough knowledge of how municipal government works. Just as incredible is your call on the POA to “accept without further complaint” a salary and benefit structure that is nearly $700 per month less than police officers are paid in Los Angeles or Irvine.

With respect to officer safety, several statistical studies, including one done by your own newspaper, have substantiated that San Diego is by far the most dangerous city in the nation to patrol; yet you arrive at the astounding conclusion that “the shooting deaths of the three officers do not prove that San Diego is the most dangerous city in the nation to patrol.”

On the issue of informing the City Council of our priorities, each council member was met with during the year and all of the many issues confronting our department were discussed. Copies of salary and benefit levels were provided in writing and oral arguments given in open council session that clearly defined our priorities. A videotape was also prepared and presented at a meeting of the City Council that addresses the salary issue. Times staffers were present at these meetings, a fact you somewhat conveniently failed to mention.

The Times’ call that gaining salary parity “will not happen all at once” typifies the rhetoric that has been forced on this city’s police officers for nearly 20 years.

The POA is not intimidated by your grossly inaccurate and insulting editorial. We will continue to aggressively advocate that the city maintain a fairly compensated and well-trained police department, despite distortions of truth and personal attacks unworthy of a responsible press.

TY REID

President

San Diego Police Officers Assn.