San Diego, CA

San Diego Police Chief to address recommendations on pursuit policy

Published

1 year ago

February 19, 2025

San Diego Police Chief to address recommendations on pursuit policy

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego’s Commission on Police Practices will meet Wednesday afternoon to take a closer look at the tough question of when a police chase becomes more dangerous than the person officers are trying to arrest.

The commission has outlined nine recommendations for revising the San Diego Police Department’s vehicle pursuit policy to improve public and officer safety.

The first recommendation calls for revising the purpose of pursuit procedures to emphasize protecting the lives and safety of the public and officers, a change that the department has agreed to implement. Another recommendation is to adopt a clear definition of a pursuit, which SDPD has also agreed to do.

The commission suggests that officers make both verbal and physical acknowledgments when terminating a pursuit. While the department agrees with parts of this recommendation, it has not fully embraced it. Another proposal is to establish a vehicle pursuit review board, and SDPD has indicated its willingness to consult with the city attorney’s office about its creation.

The fifth recommendation entails including incidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage in a report analysis; however, the department disagrees, stating it depends on fault. Additionally, integrating Commission on Police Practices staff and commissioners into the department’s training curriculum was agreed upon, as was exploring advanced technologies for pursuit management.
One unresolved point is the pursuit of law enforcement accreditation, which the department disagreed with due to a projected budget deficit. Lastly, the recommendation to avoid pursuits for lesser offenses was also rejected.

“We feel that sends the wrong message that fleeing from the police has no consequences. We have seen other jurisdictions implement restrictive pursuit policies and then have to change course to address a rise in crime. That is a risk we are not willing to take here,” SDPD Chief Scott Wahl explained. “I think it is important to note that we train our police officers on when it is necessary to have or maintain a pursuit and when it is important to terminate. One out of five pursuits that we are in, we proactively terminate because the conditions are not worth the need for immediate apprehension.”

SDPD has yet to respond to inquiries regarding which jurisdictions Chief Wahl referred to in his comments.
The suggested changes come in the wake of several deadly police pursuits in San Diego.

In Dec. 2023, 4-year-old Mason and 8-year-old Malikai Orozco-Romero were killed after a suspect fleeing from police crashed into their car. This tragedy prompted the commission to review the SDPD’s pursuit practices.

Additionally, on Aug. 26, 2024, a high-speed pursuit resulted in the death of Officer Austin Machitar and critical injuries to his partner, Zach Martinez, when 16-year-old Edgar Giovanny Oviedo collided with their patrol car.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed nearly a year after Mason and Malikai’s deaths by their family against the city of San Diego continues with the next court date scheduled for the end of this month. Officer Martinez returned to work three months after the incident, and his return was noted by the San Diego Police Officers Association.

Chief Wahl is expected to formally respond to the nine recommendations at Wednesday’s meeting, which is open to the public and scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Southeast Live Well San Diego Conference Room in Chollas View on Market Street.

Source link

Related Topics:Featured news Pursuit recommendations san diego commission on police practices

Click to comment

San Diego, CA

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

Published

8 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

On Thursday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, rising 8.7 cents to $4.894, its highest amount since Nov. 13.

The average price has increased 15 consecutive days, rising 28.7 cents, including 7 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and 14.5 cents greater than one year ago.

The average price has dropped $1.541 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“Gas prices are rising primarily due to a recent surge in crude oil following strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, told City News Service. “Any conflict with Iran can send oil prices higher, as Iran is a major oil producer and about a fifth of the oil consumed globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.

“Gas prices are increasing because of seasonal factors too. Refineries are beginning the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and demand is picking up as we head into the spring break season with more people on the road.”

The national average price rose 5.3 cents to $3.251, its highest amount since Sept. 11, 2024. It has risen five consecutive days, increasing 26.9 cents, including 8.9 cents on Wednesday.

The national average price is 26.8 cents more than one week ago, 36 cents higher than one month ago and 14.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.765 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.

Source link

San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

Published

20 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Source link

San Diego, CA

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.

The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.

Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.

Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.

The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Source link