San Diego Police Department
Encyclopedia
The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) is the primary law enforcement agency for the city of San Diego, California
. Established on May 9, 1889, the first chief of police was Joseph Coyne. The current police chief is William Lansdowne.
The frontier lawman was patrolman, detective, criminologist, jailor, process server, clerk and executioner. His first requirement was raw courage. He depended upon the gun on his hip to back up his orders. His first interest was in keeping alive and bringing the culprit to justice, dead or alive.
In 1850, the council decided to build a town jail. Two bids were received, one from the Israel brothers for $3,000 and the other from Haraszthy for $5,000. Because Haraszthy's father was president of the council, Haraszthy got the contract -- bankrupting the city. Four hours after the first prisoner was incarcerated, he dug his way through the wall with a pocket knife.
The city eventually purchased a cage and put its first escape-proof jail in the Old Town Plaza. In 1871, the jail was moved to the location of the present county courthouse at Front and C Streets in new San Diego.
The metropolitan San Diego Police Department was established May 16, 1889. On June 1 of that year, Joseph Coyne, the city marshal, was appointed the first chief of police.
The first police uniform consisted of derby hats, coats with high collars and badges with seven-point stars. Chief Coyne was paid $125 a month, his officers $100 a month; they worked 12-hour days, seven days a week. In 1895 shifts were reduced to eight hours -- but salaries also dropped: $25 a month. Mounted patrolmen furnished their own horses, but did receive $100 a month for feed and care of their animals. The modern mounted patrol began in 1934 in Balboa Park. It was abolished in 1948, but was re-established in 1983 and remains active today.
Among other milestones: Harry Vandeberg was the first detective (1907); W. E. Hill was the department's first motorcycle officer (1909); the first traffic signal was installed around 1920 at Fifth Avenue and Broadway (it was manually controlled by an officer who stood in the center of the intersection); the crime lab was established in 1939; patrol cars got one-way radios in 1932, two-way radios four years later; and the first reserves appeared on the scene in 1942.
The first police headquarters was in City Hall at Fifth Avenue and G Street. Several moves later, the department relocated at Dead Man's Point, named because of its use as a burial place for sailors and marines during the charting and surveying of San Diego Bay. The department remained there -- at 801 West Market Street -- until 1987, when it moved into its current seven-story headquarters building at 1401 Broadway.
In 2011, motorcycle officer Christopher Hall, suspected of DUI
after hitting a car and fleeing the scene
in Costa Mesa, committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a gun.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. Established on May 9, 1889, the first chief of police was Joseph Coyne. The current police chief is William Lansdowne.
History
Prior to 1889, law enforcement in San Diego was handled by city marshals and constables. Between 1845 and 1850, the town was under military control. In 1850, the state senate drew up a charter providing for a five-man city council assisted by a marshal, an attorney, an assessor and a treasurer. The voters chose Agostin Haraszthy as both sheriff and marshal.The frontier lawman was patrolman, detective, criminologist, jailor, process server, clerk and executioner. His first requirement was raw courage. He depended upon the gun on his hip to back up his orders. His first interest was in keeping alive and bringing the culprit to justice, dead or alive.
In 1850, the council decided to build a town jail. Two bids were received, one from the Israel brothers for $3,000 and the other from Haraszthy for $5,000. Because Haraszthy's father was president of the council, Haraszthy got the contract -- bankrupting the city. Four hours after the first prisoner was incarcerated, he dug his way through the wall with a pocket knife.
The city eventually purchased a cage and put its first escape-proof jail in the Old Town Plaza. In 1871, the jail was moved to the location of the present county courthouse at Front and C Streets in new San Diego.
The metropolitan San Diego Police Department was established May 16, 1889. On June 1 of that year, Joseph Coyne, the city marshal, was appointed the first chief of police.
The first police uniform consisted of derby hats, coats with high collars and badges with seven-point stars. Chief Coyne was paid $125 a month, his officers $100 a month; they worked 12-hour days, seven days a week. In 1895 shifts were reduced to eight hours -- but salaries also dropped: $25 a month. Mounted patrolmen furnished their own horses, but did receive $100 a month for feed and care of their animals. The modern mounted patrol began in 1934 in Balboa Park. It was abolished in 1948, but was re-established in 1983 and remains active today.
Among other milestones: Harry Vandeberg was the first detective (1907); W. E. Hill was the department's first motorcycle officer (1909); the first traffic signal was installed around 1920 at Fifth Avenue and Broadway (it was manually controlled by an officer who stood in the center of the intersection); the crime lab was established in 1939; patrol cars got one-way radios in 1932, two-way radios four years later; and the first reserves appeared on the scene in 1942.
The first police headquarters was in City Hall at Fifth Avenue and G Street. Several moves later, the department relocated at Dead Man's Point, named because of its use as a burial place for sailors and marines during the charting and surveying of San Diego Bay. The department remained there -- at 801 West Market Street -- until 1987, when it moved into its current seven-story headquarters building at 1401 Broadway.
In 2011, motorcycle officer Christopher Hall, suspected of DUI
DUI
DUI is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Driving under the influence * Democratic Union for Integration — the largest ethnic Albanian party in the Republic of Macedonia* Data Use Identifier...
after hitting a car and fleeing the scene
Hit and run (vehicular)
Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
in Costa Mesa, committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a gun.
Divisions
- Northern Division
- Northeastern Division
- Northwestern Division
- Eastern Division
- Southeastern Division
- Central Division
- Western Division
- Southern Division
- Mid City Division
- Map of Police Department Neighborhoods
Special units
Special units of the San Diego Police Department include:- Air Support Unit (ABLE, or AirBorne Law Enforcement)
- Auto Theft Unit
- Background Investigations Unit and Recruiting
- Cadet Program
- Canine (K-9)
- Child Abuse Unit
- Cold Case Homicide Team
- Communications Division
- Crime analysis
- Criminal Intelligence Unit
- Crisis intervention
- Domestic Violence Unit
- Elder and Dependent Abuse Unit
- Field Training Officer Administration (FTO)
- Financial Crimes Unit
- Homeless Outreach Team
- Identity Theft Unit
- Forensic Science Laboratory Division
- Gang Suppression Unit
- Harbor Patrol Unit (part of Northern Command)
- Homicide Unit
- Juvenile Administration Section
- Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST)
- Media Relations
- Mounted Enforcement Unit (retired due to budget)
- Narcotics Unit
- Parking Enforcement
- Robbery Unit
- Sex Crimes Unit
- SWAT/SRT (Special Response Team)
- Traffic Division, Accident Investigation Bureau, Motor Squad, Special Services
- Vice Operations Section, Permits and Licensing
About SDPD
- Headquarters Directory
- Mission Statement
- Community Oriented Policing
- Problem Oriented Policing
- Organizational Chart
- San Diego Police Department Historical Association
- Fallen Heroes
- San Diego Police Foundation
Current Ranking Structure
| Title | Insignia | Insignia Located |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Chief of police A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable... |
 |
Uniform Collar Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
| Executive Assistant Chief |  |
Uniform Collar Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
| Assistant Chief |  |
Uniform Collar Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
| Captain Police captain - France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant.... |
Uniform Collar Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
|
| Lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank... |
 |
Uniform Collar Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
| Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
 |
Uniform Sleeve Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
| Agent (Obsolete Rank) |  |
Uniform Sleeve Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
| Detective Detective A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"... |
 |
Non-Uniformed Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
| Police Officer II Officer (armed forces) An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position... |
|
No collar device, no chevron Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
| Police Officer I Officer (armed forces) An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position... |
|
No collar device, no chevron Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
| Police Recruit Officer (armed forces) An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position... |
|
No collar device, no chevron Uniform A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates... |
Fallen officers
Since the department's establishment, 32 officers have died in the line of duty.| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Officer Emery E. Campbell | August 27, 1913 | Gunfire |
| Sergeant Oliver S. Hopkins | July 2, 1915 | Vehicular assault |
| Patrolman Walter B. Holcomb | October 21, 1918 | Spanish flu from transporting the ill |
| Officer Joseph S. Lee | March 19, 1921 | Vehicle pursuit |
| Detective Charles R. Harris | April 3, 1927 | Gunfire |
| Officer Robert Lee Powers | June 16, 1928 | Vehicular assault |
| Patrolman Robert B. McPherson | September 19, 1929 | Assault |
| Patrolman Edward J. Moore | January 15, 1933 | Gunfire |
| Patrolman Thomas A. Keays | November 20, 1937 | Heart attack |
| Officer Henry J. Goodrich | September 7, 1940 | Motorcycle accident |
| Patrolman Robert F. Bowers | December 12, 1955 | Vehicle pursuit |
| Sergeant Harry Kay Jr. | March 11, 1957 | Automobile accident |
| Patrolman Michael J. Bushman | November 25, 1963 | Automobile accident |
| Sergeant Robert L. Everitt | December 7, 1964 | Struck by vehicle |
| Patrolman James P. Lewis | December 29, 1970 | Gunfire |
| Sergeant Freddie Joel Edwards | October 7, 1971 | Gunfire |
| Patrolman Denis W. Allen] | April 2, 1977 | Gunfire |
| Patrolman Archie C. Buggs | November 4, 1978 | Gunfire |
| Patrolman Michael T. Anaya] | April 11, 1979 | Gunfire |
| Patrolman Dennis Glenn Gonzales | June 25, 1979 | Struck by vehicle |
| Patrolman Harry Keith Tiffany | |
Gunfire |
| Patrolman Ronald R. Ebeltoft | June 6, 1981 | Gunfire |
| Patrolman Kirk Leland Johnson | February 20, 1983 | Gunfire |
| Police Officer Kimberly Sue Tonahill | September 14, 1984 | Gunfire |
| Patrolman Timothy J. Ruopp | September 16, 1984 | Gunfire |
| Agent Thomas E. Riggs | March 31, 1985 | Gunfire |
| Patrolman Jerry L. Hartless | January 31, 1988 | Gunfire |
| Officer Ronald Wayne Davis | September 17, 1991 | Gunfire |
| Officer Gerald Kieffer Griffin Jr. | April 25, 2003 | Struck by vehicle |
| Officer Terry William Bennett | June 26, 2003 | Vehicular assault |
| Officer Christopher A. Wilson | October 27, 2010 | Gunfire |
| Officer Jeremy Henwood | August 6, 2011 | Gunfire |
| Officer Jason Prokop | October 1, 2011 | Struck by Vehicle |