Nov 22, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; A San Diego Metropolitan Police officer and K-9 patrol the parking lot and trolley station before the game between the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego, California – San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has proposed closing the San Diego Police Department’s Northwestern Division station in Carmel Valley as part of efforts to address the city’s projected $258 million budget deficit.
The closure, expected to save $1.7 million, is one of several measures included in a draft city budget that outlines $7 million in cuts to the police department. If approved, the Northwestern Division—currently serving Carmel Valley, Del Mar Heights, Sorrento Valley, Torrey Highlands, and Black Mountain Ranch—would be consolidated with the Northeastern Division located in Rancho Peñasquitos.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said public safety would not be compromised. “We’re just shifting the front line personnel to come out of the Northeastern substation,” Wahl said. “The same amount of personnel will be working that area—we’re just cutting the command and overhead essentially to save money.”
Despite these assurances, the proposed closure has drawn criticism from law enforcement representatives and local residents. Sergeant Jared Wilson, president of the San Diego Police Officers’ Association, voiced concern about the potential impact on response times and public confidence.
“It’s going to be a real impact to both of those communities, whether you’re living in Rancho Bernardo or Del Mar or anywhere in between,” Wilson told CBS 8. “You’re going to see a decrease in police services, you’re going to see an increase in response to 911 calls, and it is going to erode community trust.”
In addition to closing the station, the draft budget includes the elimination of 13 sworn officer positions and cuts to patrol and 911 staff overtime. Some residents have expressed alarm over the proposal, arguing it could undermine public safety.
“Cutting the SDPD budget is non-negotiable,” said Catherine Douglas, a Carmel Valley resident. “This budget is asking SDPD to do the impossible and it puts residents at risk.”
While the station would no longer be used for regular operations, Chief Wahl noted that the front desk would remain open to serve as a community storefront.
The city will hold a series of public budget hearings from May 5 to May 9. A revised budget is scheduled to be presented to the City Council on May 19, with final adoption expected by June 10.
