In the midst of a maelstrom of administrative and budgetary woes pervading the city’s law enforcement agencies, The Center hosted a Community Coalition Breakfast headed by San Diego Police Department (SDPD) and Fire-Rescue Department Chiefs William Lansdowne and Tracy Jarman on Jan. 19. The two panelists spoke candidly with concerned citizens in attendance about the departments’ lack of wherewithal, including monetary restraints and attrition rates.

The civic leaders voiced their operational successes and grievances in the wake of the greatest financial crisis the city has ever known. Despite maintaining one of the lowest crime rates in the nation, Lansdowne reported being “challenged as an organization” nonetheless. He expressed his gratitude for the continued support, leadership and presence of the GLBT community, calling the group the “warmest, most appreciative community in San Diego.”

Facilitating the early morning panel, District 3 Councilmember Toni Atkins extolled the collaborative initiative and sheer comity shared between both department heads, calling their professional relationship exemplary in comparison with other cities.

Both Lansdowne and Jarman discussed resources available to their respective departments vis-à-vis Los Angeles and San Francisco. Jarman compared the city’s diminutive fire department budget for fiscal year 2007 of $170 million with San Francisco’s $227-million fire department allocation, citing their coverage area and per capita obligation as “much less than ours.” Private donations and corporate sponsorships help supplement such financial disparity, including a recent donation of mobile phones by Qualcomm to the SDPD – one for every officer on the beat.

According to Lansdowne and Jarman, various barriers continue to obstruct the recruitment and retention goals of both departments, especially after last year’s gradual exodus of 215 police officers. Lansdowne says he and his department are forced to contend with the fact that the Los Angeles Police Department is offering a $10,000 signing bonus to lateral transfers. Along with competitive salary incentives afforded by other cities, officers of the SDPD operate around a strenuous work schedule as well. “Orange County is on a three-days-of-work and four-days-off schedule, whereas we are on a four-days-of-work, three-days-off schedule,” Lansdowne explained, adding that SDPD salaries are currently in the process of negotiation.

Atkins was confident that under Lansdowne’s leadership, the conditions at the police department would improve. She lauded his “community policing” style of law enforcement, citing it as a central reason for being hired. “Community policing,” incorporated in San Jose during Lansdowne’s tenure as the city’s chief of police, is a method in which the police department is run as a transparent institution that encourages community suggestions and influence.

Jarman also vocalized her departmental concerns, including the dilapidated conditions of certain urban fire stations. “One of the challenges that we’ve faced is deferred maintenance,” Jarman noted, adding, “Toni Atkins has helped me with Station Five at Ninth and University [avenues]. That’s the one fire station that if I could knock it down, I would.”

Outdated station features include fire truck garages that are too small to accommodate newer and larger apparatuses.

There are 46 fire stations in San Diego County. Along with physical station improvements, Jarman also wishes to improve the department’s emergency response time, calling the critical five-minute interval between the time the department is called and the time of its arrival “the measure of our effectiveness.” Five-minute responses should occur 90 percent of the time, but, according to Jarman, the department has only been able to adhere to the five-minute response 50 percent of the time.

Jarman remains optimistic about the abilities of the fire department, especially since a Homeland Security Office has been established in San Diego that will allow the department the opportunity to bid for grants once again.

“We’ve got one of the best emergency communication systems out there. … We were recognized nationwide for our ability to communicate with other fire agencies and other law enforcement agencies,” Jarman said.

Updating departmental strategic plans is also on Jarman’s to do list, including the enhancement of leadership, operational readiness in the case of a natural disaster, customer service and best business practices.

Jarman joined the nation’s exclusive group of openly lesbian fire chiefs in June of last year by way of mayoral appointment. Lansdowne was sworn in as chief of police in August of 2003.

Both the SDPD and SDFRD are actively seeking new recruits for what Lansdowne calls “the job of a lifetime.” For more information about joining either department as an officer, firefighter or dispatcher, call (619) 531-2000 or (619) 533-4300.