The San Diego Police Officers Association is demanding immediate action to address patrol staffing shortages after a deadly shooting at the Islamic Center. The union reports that the Northern Division had only seven officers on duty, half the required minimum, leading to dangerous response delays.
- The shooting occurred last week at the Islamic Center in San Diego. - The Northern Division was staffed with only seven patrol officers, despite a minimum of 14.
- A runaway juvenile call preceding the attack experienced over an hour delay before officers began searching. - The SDPOA blames department leadership for cutting $12 million in patrol overtime, worsening response times.
The San Diego Police Department acknowledged staffing challenges and will review whether staffing levels contributed to the incident.