San Diego is abuzz with the return of the b-word: bankruptcy. Mayoral candidate Larry Turner, a city of San Diego police officer, is advocating for the city to explore bankruptcy as an option. Turner is also proposing reduced guaranteed pension benefits for future city employees, including public safety personnel. In a bold move, he wants to offer substantial bonuses to attract new police recruits to San Diego. Turner recently shared his vision in an exclusive interview for the Voice of San Diego podcast.
“We’re losing our trained officers to other cities, and it’s time we took action,” Turner stated. He highlighted the lack of awareness among young cops regarding their benefits, emphasizing the need for change. Despite not having the endorsement of the city’s Police Officers Association, Turner remains confident that every cop would support his policies.
In his interview, Turner outlined his proposed reforms for the police department, including assigning non-armed personnel to handle post-crime scenes and mental health calls. This restructuring is aimed at bridging the staffing gap and fulfilling the city’s vital requirements.
One major source of tension between police officers and Mayor Gloria is the latter’s support for a Covid vaccine mandate, which Turner vehemently opposes. Additionally, Turner rejects the idea of a new 1% sales tax for San Diego and suggests addressing projected deficits by cutting waste and tapping into special project funds designated for city improvements.
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