Life and Death > Police Procedures

San Diego PD

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Carrie:
I just need some brief info about this to include as background for one of my characters.  I've read the website already but I'm not clear on a few things, so if anyone has some info, I'd appreciate it.  Does headquarters house the only homicide unit for the city or does each division have its own (I'm thinking the divisions are strictly patrol officers)?  Does anyone know the actual term they use for a homicide detective in SDPD?  Thanks for any info.  Carrie

JIM DOHERTY:
Carrie,

According to two very good San Diego-set cop novels by former SDPD homicide detective Jack Mullen, In the Line of Duty and Behind the Shield, the homicide detail (and apparently it's called the homicide detail, not squad, unit, division, section, etc) is a city-wide bureau working out of HQ.  Officers are called "detectives," but it's not clear to me whether this is a separate rank or a courtesy title.

Hope that helps.

JIM DOHERTY:
Lee,

I know of him, but I've never met him.

Went to high school in San Jose, so there's another connection we have.  I have met former San Jose Chief Joe McNamara.  In fact I moderated a panel he was on along with another San Jose cop turned novelist named Dave Scannell, LAPD Detective Paul Bishop, and former Secret Service Agent Gerald Petievich.  (Not shy about name-dropping, am I?)

My connection with San Diego area law enforcement is my cousin who was once a deputy DA, later a municipal court judge, and later still a superior court judge.  He'd worked with Jack Mullen a few times and recommended his books to me.

Carrie:
Thanks guys!!  I got all the info I needed from your posts.  Carrie

JIM DOHERTY:
Lee,

I don't know Officer Hahn, but I'm glad to see another Bay Area cop writing.  Has he had anything published?

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