This is KPBS Midday Edition . I'm Maureen Cavanaugh. it is Thursday, October 19. Our top story a midday edition why is the San Diego Police Department struggling with recruiting and retaining officers Russian Mark they say the main reason is that police are underpaid. Plan to address that problem has been hammered out between the police officers union and Kevin Faulconer. The deal to raise salaries is now waiting for a final vote by police and a city Council vote. The mayor's office is the increase will cost the city $66 million. Andrew Baldwin spoke with Mayor Faulkner about the wage hike.So big pay raises for police officers. Do you know how much it will cost the taxpayers?We been really under market compared to the other cities around the county and other places. We need to make sure that we have the ability to attract and retain -- this new contract ensures that we will be competitive not just for the short term but for years and years to come. It is worth it. Public safety is our number one priority. We have a tentative agreement and am confident that both the police officer's Association and the city Council will ratify this contract.We have a dollar estimate both in the short-term and also long-term --We do. Making sure that we are recruiting and retaining San Diego police officer's is one of our highest priorities.The city had commission compensation study for the police officer's. Are the results finalized was rightThey are not finalized but we were 3040% below what other cities were paid. That is not a surprise. We invest a lot will we hire somebody in the police department. Recruiting and training and we want to make sure that this is a great place for officers to working for years to come. I think it will go a long way. This is one of my top priorities as mayor.The city is facing a number of budget deficits. How is the city going to pay for these pay increases?You make it a priority. That is a very clear message that public safety is our number one priority. We have to ensure that we have the best and enough of them. We have vacancies that we need to fill to get the men and women on board with our department.After the races, do you know where San Diego will bring?We are towards the bottom and turns of what we have been paying our police officers. That is been very tough. We will never be the top of the scale but we have opportunities that you don't find in other departments. I think this is going to go a long way to make sure that people stay in the San Diego Police Department and that will be a great change for the city.How soon would you think we will measure this deal and effectiveness?Some feedback we've gotten to just today say this is the type of thing that the city should've done a long time ago. I agree with that. That is why I've made this is priority. I think that is why you see this tentative agreement to make sure that the officers know they are valued and they will have a great career and we will pay them a fear -- her salary.The city did offer some pay increases a couple of years ago you signed a new deal with the officers Association. What is going to be different about this deal?It's more of a longer-term commitment. We have to make sure we are competitive. We been down at the bottom end of that scale and this changes that. We have a great department with a lot of opportunities and very supportive of the work that the chief has been doing. Nor -- our ability to attract the best and the brightest but also to keep him here. We are so fortunate that we have a great department and we want to make sure it stays that way.The city has a lot of applicants that don't make it to the first round as we are very high standards. Is the city looking into changing some of those standards?No, we had very high standards and keep them that way. Are citizens demand that. We want men and women that are going to do an excellent job and a very difficult and stressful job. We are always going to have some of the highest standards that you will see in any department.That was Mayor Kevin Faulconer speaking with Andrew Bowen. This week we are marking the 10th anniversary of the 2007 San Diego wildfires by examining what it means to be living with wildfires. Later some stories about the problems homeowners encountered in trying to rebuild after their homes were destroyed and what we can learn from their struggles. First, a report on the cutting edge tools use to help firefighters battle raging fires. We take a look at the technology.For those of us who were here in late October 2007, the image and feel of San Diego up in flames is seared into was. The air thick with smoke and ash and -- Fire Chief was on the front lines.It was like standing in the fire. I could barely stand up. It was weeping embers right by me.In the end the fires killed 10 people and more than 2000 buildings and homes were destroyed causing $2 billion in damage and half 1 million people had to be evacuated. To help ensure the region doesn't see a repeat, the fire department has created an arsenal of data and technology. Their emerging technology manager said the biggest risk to life and property has been in the regions backcountry. So experts and fire officials study the area. tried to identify where on the risk and one of the evacuation issues. You can go out there and say we know this area. We expect the fire to move this direction. Here is the homes at risk.They now have a library to help them.We plan pages and pages of information so if the fire comes up this Canyon, here is what we are going to do. Here's how many helicopters will need.The information also contain evacuation triggers.If the fire goes down the canyon, we know when to start evacuating the neighborhoods so that we allow time for people to make the announcements to get out of harms way.Fire teams outside of San Diego can also download the plans on their phones or tablets. It's another big change since 2007. Fire engine captains on the field have smart phones and tablets in the fire engines.It allows him to step away from the fire engine and carry that with them and have all the information.It allows him to check weather maps.I don't want to be out in front of it if it's going to hit us.The firefighters will now have access to general atomic sensor technology on winged aircraft, which can spot objects 40 km away. It has previously only been available to the military for wars.They are video payloads that are based on optical wavelength that you can see with your eyes and then different infrared wavelengths that you can see through smoke and also ground imaging radar capability, which can see the pretty much anything.The manager says the technology will better help firefighters map out the perimeter of fires.The goal is to spot it pastor and put out faster and help the firefighter be more effective.With all of this new technology are the days of colossal fires over in our county? The Italian chief said not so much.We are battling mother nature on two friends. And the wind and the weather that striving the fire.
A tentative contract designed to stem the flow of experienced officers from the San Diego Police Department to other law enforcement agencies includes raises of up to 30.6 percent for some personnel, city officials said Wednesday.
The two-year agreement between the San Diego Police Officers Association, the union representing the department's officers, and the city was announced Tuesday night by Mayor Kevin Faulconer.
Officers have been leaving the department at a rate of 12 or 13 a month for several years, with some simply retiring but many seeking better pay in neighboring cities or with the Sheriff's Department.
The deal is estimated to cost some $66 million — money Faulconer said was worth spending.
RELATED: San Diego Police Officers Get Bump In Uniform Allowance
"It's a significant investment in taxpayer dollars, but public safety is our number one priority," Faulconer said.
It is still unclear how the raises for the police will be paid for. The city's independent budget analyst has warned of budget deficits in the coming years that already threaten things like library hours, tree trimming and funding for the arts.
If ratified by the SDPOA membership and approved by the City Council, the deal would give officers an 8.3 percent pay increase in each of the next two years, of which 3.3 percent in each year were part of the previous contract. Another 5 percent raise would take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Also, officers with 20 or more years of sworn service in law enforcement would receive an additional 5 percent raise on July 1, 2019. A 4 percent hike would be provided to all officers on the same date in exchange for negotiated changes to certain flexible health benefits.
RELATED: San Diego Police Chief Search Wraps Up Community Forums
SDPOA President Brian Marvel said the deal will help recruit new officers and bring in experienced personnel from competing agencies.
"By employing a new strategy with regard to SDPD recruitment and retention, one based on competitive compensation, the city is sending the right message to our experienced officers, catching the eye of the quality laterals and recruits we want to attract, and giving taxpayers more value for their tax dollars," Marvel said.
The SDPD currently employs 239 fewer officers than the budgeted level, with many of those on the force being in academies or in field training.
Beyond the sheer numbers of losses in the SDPD ranks, city officials have been worried about the loss of experienced personnel to lead the younger cops.
About one-third of older officers are eligible to retire over the next five years, according to Chief Shelley Zimmerman.
