San Diego Public Safety Committee Meeting - August 19, 2026

The Public Safety Committee met on August 19, 2026, at 2:00 PM to discuss the Neighborhood Policing Division update, the Training Division update, and non-agenda public comments. The meeting included presentations from SDPD captains and lieutenants, public testimony, and committee discussion. Key themes included staffing challenges, homeless outreach, training innovations, and community concerns over surveillance technology.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Approval of committee minutes from June 17, 2026. Passed unanimously (4-0). No public comments or requests for continuance.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 2: Neighborhood Policing Division Update

• Lori Lippman (District 3) expressed concern that increased policing does not bring safety; she argued money should be spent on prevention rather than arrests and incarceration.
• Joy Sunyata praised the department's progress despite staffing shortfalls and overtime reductions, offering strong support for Chief Wall and SDPD.
• Lori Saldania (former legislator) criticized the enforcement approach, noting that encroachment citations (up 61%) are used to move people rather than address root causes of homelessness. She called for more housing and preservation of public third spaces.
• Darth Vader (comic speaker) sarcastically advocated for more police funding and less for parks, libraries, and shelters.
• Darwin (Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego) questioned the cycle of arrests and re-arrests without housing solutions, citing a case of one person arrested over 100 times.
• Daniel Perneau (former Marine) criticized the city's use of Flock surveillance cameras and argued for more housing instead of policing.

Item 3: Training Division Update

• Joy Sunyata praised the training advances and suggested using virtual reality (VR) headsets for scenario-based training, possibly funded by grants or philanthropy.
• Patricia Madragon (District 3 resident) shared a story about an SDPD officer reading a book on lying, raising concerns about deception and mass surveillance. She urged training on constitutional and human rights.
• Alejandro (South San Diego/Southeast) called for training to include input from formerly incarcerated individuals and community organizations, noting that lived-experience mentors are often called in crises instead of police.
• Phone number ending in 5868 asked for benchmarks to measure training effectiveness and officer feedback, and urged the city to hire more officers to reduce overtime burnout.
• Natalie Humphrey (personal capacity, child of sheriff's deputies) highlighted a 40% self-report rate of domestic violence in police work, and emphasized the need for personal accountability beyond training.

Non-Agenda Public Comments (Flock/ALPR Surveillance)

Over 30 speakers opposed the city's contract with Flock Safety, citing:

• Nationwide misuse (stalking, wrongful arrests, data sharing with ICE).
• A 37% error rate (Vallejo study).
• A San Diego man jailed for a month due to a misidentification.
• Over 1,900 petition signatures and at least 80 cities that have canceled ALPR contracts.
• Concerns that Flock data is used to target immigrant communities and violates Fourth Amendment rights.
• Speakers included representatives from ACLU, Alliance San Diego, Youth Will, and individual residents. Chair Von Wilpert allowed all speakers to be heard, despite a rule limiting to 8 per topic, sparking criticism from one speaker that the gesture was "performative."

Additional Non-Agenda Comments

• Lori Saldania presented photos of current high-tide flooding in Mission Beach and Midway Drive, urging the city to address immediate flood risks rather than waiting for El Niño.
• Francine Maxwell criticized the Committee for not providing an independent attorney to the Commission on Police Practices (CPP), and cited recent SDPD arrests for public drunkenness.
• Becky Rapp commended the city attorney's recent enforcement against smoke shops selling kratom, and requested regular updates.
• Phone number ending in 5868 (Karen V) detailed the wrongful arrest of Hugo Para due to Flock misidentification, noting 4 million unique plate reads in the past 30 days.
• Judy Strang (public health educator) advocated for a smoke-free and vape-free public places ordinance to protect children near schools.
• Ale (Youth Justice Momentum Team) argued that surveillance funds should go to youth mentors and workforce development instead of policing.
• Madison urged upstream investment in youth substance use prevention to reduce future enforcement needs.
• Seth Hall warned that the city is planning a "new tsunami" of surveillance including cameras, underwater surveillance, and drones, despite community opposition.

Discussion Items

Item 2: Neighborhood Policing Division Update

Captain Steve Shabwski and Lieutenant Matt Botkin presented. Key points:

• Staffing has decreased 52% since 2020 (from 65 PO2s to 39, only 34 available).
• Temporary assignment of every academy class to NPD for three months has helped maintain operations.
• Enforcement data (2023-2025): felony arrests +60%, misdemeanor arrests +72%, drug-related arrests (11550) +114%, encroachment contacts +61%.
• Overtime reduced by $1.364 million since 2023; get-it-done response time improved from avg 10 days to 5.6 days.
• 5,700 homeless individuals assisted annually; 1,100 placed into shelter/housing (3-year average).
• Intervention Services expanded from 1 officer to a sergeant and 4 officers; 57 individuals taken to Recovery Bridge Center since July 1.
• 2,225 people accepted shelter but were rejected due to capacity; 1,807 accepted some level of assistance.
• New $700,000 opioid settlement funds for vehicles, training, and alternatives to incarceration. Committee Questions:
• Councilmember Whitburn asked about capacity shortages; Lt. Botkin confirmed 2,225 people accepted but rejected due to capacity. He stressed that those who accept services are not cited or arrested.
• Councilmember Campbell asked about proactive outreach; Captain Shabwski described a hybrid model where most contacts begin with offers of services. He noted that intervention services focuses on the 1% of the population that generates 17% of calls for service. The team works with the San Diego Collaborative Court to divert individuals from jail to treatment.
• Chair Von Wilpert raised concerns about the new officers' field training; Lt. Botkin and Captain Shabwski argued that NPD provides valuable hands-on experience in community policing and de-escalation that prepares officers for patrol.

Item 3: Training Division Update

Captain Mike Ramsey and Lieutenant Brian McGilvre presented. New initiatives in the last 18 months:

• Command Cohort: 3-month leadership program for future command staff covering leading people, city operations, communication, community engagement, strategic planning, incident command, and wellness.
• L380/L280/L180 Leadership Training: Based on wildland fire leadership, focused on managing high-risk incidents.
• Department Leadership Course: For aspiring leaders (sworn and professional staff), covering crucial conversations, ethical decision-making, and career guidance.
• Mentoring Program: 175 volunteer mentors for new recruits.
• Career Catalog and Pathways: Online portal and video segments highlighting specialized units (e.g., ABLE helicopter).
• Command Convention: First-ever gathering of all lieutenants and above for alignment and working groups.
• In-Service Training Teams: Two teams that go to commands 4-5 times per year for scenario-based training, allowing rapid response to emerging needs.
• Use of VR and mixed reality for de-escalation and decision-making training, funded by grants. Committee Questions:
• Councilmember Campbell asked about frequency of scenario-based training; Captain Ramsey stated the goal is for training teams to visit each command 2-3 times per 4-month shift. He noted that current officers receive about 50 hours of mandated and additional training annually.
• Chair Von Wilpert asked about funding; Captain Ramsey acknowledged reliance on grants and the police foundation, and the Chair expressed concern that training should be fully funded.
• Chair asked about new officer training pathway: 7-month academy, 4-month field training with rotating FTOs, then potential phase training extension. New officers go to patrol commands first, then may join NPD.
• Chair asked about real-time training after critical incidents; Captain Ramsey described the force analysis unit and training teams that develop curriculum and deliver it at lineups and through scenario-based drills.
• Chair asked about evaluating training; Captain Ramsey cited feedback forms, supervisor input, and data from force analysis and internal affairs.
• Chair asked about distinguishing training deficiencies from character flaws; Captain Ramsey said egregious cases go to Professional Standards Unit, and training referrals may be part of discipline.
• Chair asked about community input; Captain Ramsey said academy training includes community group interactions, and leadership training often features outside speakers (business executives, community members).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Item 1 (minutes) passed 4-0.
• Item 2: Informational item; no vote. Committee members expressed appreciation for NPD's work and concern about shelter capacity (2,225 turned away). Councilmember Whitburn noted the need for more shelter beds.
• Item 3: Informational item; no vote. Chair Von Wilpert noted that the city should pursue full funding for training from the state rather than relying on grants.
• Non-Agenda Public Comments: No formal action was taken, but the Chair allowed all 30+ speakers to be heard. Multiple speakers demanded termination of the Flock contract; the committee did not respond or schedule a vote.