The county’s top law enforcement officials addressed the status of public safety at a panel presented by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association on Tuesday.
The North County Times nailed the highlights, but here are some notable quotes that didn’t make the newspaper’s article. (Links added for context.)
“We’ve doubled our caseload in real estate fraud in the last year,” District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said.
“I can tell you that I just looked at the numbers coming down and sexual offenses are down a little bit in the city of San Diego,” Police Chief Bill Lansdowne said. “We know where all but 10 of our registrants are in the city of San Diego, and they’re probably out of the city and that’s why we’re not able to find them.”
“The largest provider of mental health services in the county is the Sheriff’s Jail. There’s really no where else where some of those people can get that service,” Lansdowne said.
“Even single month we have tips on marijuana, weapons, knives, guns in middle schools. We actually are getting more tips from middle schools than high schools right now,” San Diego CrimeStoppers Executive Director Sally Cox said.
“In 2008, we had 138 oxycodone-related prosecutions. In last year, though, we had 252. So we are seeing an increase, because what’s happening is teenagers and kids are going to grandma and/or mom and dad’s medicine cabinet and taking out the oxy,” Dumanis said.
“I certainly am against the proposition,” Dumanis said about efforts to legalize marijuana.
“I think down the road you’ll see us heading that way,” Sheriff Bill Gore said about forming a centralized DNA lab for all law enforcement agencies.
“We’re so big in the County of San Diego that you need two systems [so] if one fails, or something occurs that you’re unable to do those cases, we still have a way to manage it,” Lansdowne said in opposing the formation of a centralized DNA lab.
You can also expect to see a few other notable quotes from the panel in our Fact Check Blog soon. Stay tuned.
— KEEGAN KYLE