San Diego Police struggle to meet call time and demand
by: Samantha Griffen
San Diego residents are waiting longer for police to respond to priority one calls, with most emergencies taking far beyond the department’s promised target response time of 14 minutes.
Reports show response times for priority one calls, classified by the SDPD as “serious, in-progress crimes or immediate threats to life,” have increased significantly, raising concerns about public safety and resource availability.
According to the 2026 San Diego budget, police were responding to priority one calls at an average of 34.9 minutes, when the target time is 14 minutes, nearly 21 minutes longer than the promised time.
“There’s definitely a lack of resources; there just aren’t enough officers. The fewer officers you have, the less likely you are to get a quick response,” public information officer Makenna Blakmen said.
Despite slight fluctuations, response times have remained more than double the department’s 14-minute goal, highlighting an ongoing gap between expectations and reality. In the previous two years, response times have been 31.5 in 2024 and 33.3 in 2025.
The San Diego Police Department has struggled with both recruitment and retention, making it difficult to maintain staffing levels. Officials and law enforcement advocates say the department is not meeting its hiring goals, further straining available resources.
“Recruitment and retention are key,” Blackman said. “Right now, both are struggling, and that directly impacts how quickly officers can respond.”
Pay, benefits and workplace conditions all play a role in the hiring shortage. Potential recruits often consider whether departments offer competitive salaries and adequate mental health support.
“Pay is a big factor, and so are benefits,” Blackmen said. “People want to know what kind of support they’ll get, especially things like mental health resources.”
Limited staffing can also lead to burnout among current officers, creating a cycle that makes retention even more difficult.
“If staffing is limited, officers are going to be overwhelmed,” Blackmen said. “That definitely affects retention.”
Police argue that prioritizing calls is necessary when resources are limited. Lower priority, less life-threatening calls are left waiting longer, often due to location and demand.
“It comes down to priorities, what’s most important,” Blackmen said. “Life-threatening calls are going to come first.”
Response times can also vary by area. Neighborhoods with higher call volumes or greater need may require more officers, which can affect how quickly police can respond elsewhere.
Data from the Automated Regional Justice Information System shows response times have steadily increased in recent years, particularly for priority one calls. This information system tracks which calls are made and where they come from.
“It really depends on where the need is greatest, that’s how resources are distributed,” Blackmen said, noting that areas like downtown San Diego often face higher demand.
City leaders are continuing to debate the 2027 budget allocations, including whether to increase or reduce funding for police services. Some officials argue that cuts could further impact response times, while others advocate reallocating funds to other community priorities.
“I refuse to reduce neighborhood patrols,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria in his 2027 budget proposal announcement.
While Gloria’s proposed budget allocates $725 million to police services and protects staffing, it does not guarantee improvements in response times. The funding maintains current operations rather than expanding the force, as the department continues to face recruitment and retention challenges.
Despite the delays, officials emphasize that emergency calls remain the department’s top priority. Still, for many residents, longer wait times for non-emergency incidents continue to raise concerns about public safety and police availability.