The San Diego Police Department has traveled a rocky path these last few years.
A spate of officer misconduct issues led up to the abrupt retirement of long-time Police Chief William Lansdowne and several lawsuits. That’s not to mention growing concerns over racial profiling, which have escalated tensions between the department and community members.
A number of people have called for outside oversight, and an audit by the U.S. Department of Justice is getting under way. Meanwhile, roughly half the force is up for retirement in the next four years. The SDPD could look very different, very soon.
We wanted to get some expert input on what challenges the department will face as it tries to rebuild its ranks and build a trusting relationship with the public. So on Tuesday, April 15, we’re inviting three people to weigh in:
• Joshua Chanin is a public affairs professor at San Diego State University, and an expert on police accountability.
• Margaret Dooley-Sammuli is a senior policy advocate at ACLU San Diego, which has been involved in addressing community concerns and monitoring SDPD reforms.
• Johanna Schiavoni is an attorney and president of the Lawyers Club of San Diego, which advocates for the advancement of women in law and society.
Join us for a chat with our panelists at 6 p.m. at Cherokee Point Elementary School. The event is free for everyone, but Voice of San Diego members get preferred seating. And come hungry — we’ll have Delicioso Food Truck on-site.
Register here to get in the door.