The public safety community weighed in on the San Diego Mayor’s race today.
The San Diego Police Officer’s Association, the Police Officers Research Association of California and the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs have announced their endorsement of Democratic Congressman Bob Filner for mayor. The Filner campaign said California Attorney General Kamala Harris has also endorsed him.
The San Diego POA endorsed Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher in the primary. But Vice President Jeff Jordon said the union believes Filner understands their needs. He said the POA does not think Filner’s opponent, Republican City Councilman Carl DeMaio, understands how to collaborate with city employees.
The union opposed the voter-approved Proposition B to eliminate pensions for most new hires, excluding police officers. DeMaio was a major supporter of the measure. Jordon said the POA does not trust DeMaio.
"Now he’s been reaching out to us to seek our endorsement. Well, that’s too little too late for us," he said. "When we talked to Bob, Bob has taken a great deal of time to understand our issues and to work with us."
Filner said his public safety priorities include implementing the police department’s five-year plan and upgrading the police communications system. Speaking at San Diego Police headquarters, Filner said he was "truly humbled'' by the support shown to him by law enforcement. The congressman said the SDPD was at "dangerously low staffing levels'' after years of budgetary belt-tightening.
"We're talking about cross-your-fingers policing,'' Filner said, pointing at this year's rise in San Diego's typically low crime rate and the years-long problem of the SDPD losing experienced officers to other agencies that pay better.
In a statement, DeMaio said he respects the police force and looks forward to working with it in a constructive way.
