Mayor floats idea of combining Harbor Police with SDPD at Politifest

Navy's Free Ride: San Diego Subsidizes $25M Annually in Security Services Navy Funds Elsewhere

Congressional Delegation Silent While Cruise Passengers and Cargo Shippers Pay for Navy Protection—Mayor's Merger Would Perpetuate Rather Than Fix the Scandal

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria wants to merge the Port of San Diego Harbor Police into the city's police department, claiming it would add 140 officers to address SDPD's chronic staffing shortage. But the proposal ignores a scandal hiding in plain sight:

The Navy's Free Ride: San Diego is the ONLY major Navy port where a civilian agency provides maritime security and firefighting at zero Navy cost. At Norfolk and Pearl Harbor, the Navy spends $40-60 million annually on Department of Navy Police and Federal Fire Departments. In San Diego, cruise ships and cargo terminals fund it all—a $20-25 million annual subsidy protecting billions in Navy assets.

Congressional Delegation MIA: Reps. Scott Peters, Sara Jacobs, and Juan Vargas secured $400+ million for Tijuana sewage treatment and challenged Navy leadership on environmental impacts to SEAL training. But on Navy's free security and firefighting? Complete silence. No hearings. No legislation. No accountability.

The Performance Failure: Harbor Police's inadequate response to the 2020 USS Bonhomme Richard fire contributed to losing a $750 million warship. The department lacks proper marine firefighting equipment—deficiencies that would be the Navy's responsibility and budget at any other port.

The Power Grab Solution: Gloria's merger would transfer a five-city regional agency to single-city control, creating governance chaos while perpetuating Navy's subsidy. The real solution: Make the Navy pay $20-25 million annually for services it funds everywhere else.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's October 4 proposal to absorb Harbor Police into the San Diego Police Department has sparked debate over police staffing and jurisdictional control. But the real story lies in what nobody's discussing: Why does the U.S. Navy get free security and firefighting services in San Diego while paying tens of millions for identical services everywhere else?

The answer reveals an accidental subsidy worth $20-25 million annually—one that cruise passengers and cargo shippers fund while Navy warships, nuclear submarines, and military shipyards benefit. And San Diego's congressional delegation, despite their effectiveness on other Navy issues, has remained conspicuously silent.

SIDEBAR: What is Politifest?

Politifest is Voice of San Diego's annual public affairs summit. The October 4, 2025 event at USD drew over 1,000 participants for a "Solutions Showdown" where panelists pitched competing proposals.

Notable outcomes:

Council President Sean Elo-Rivera won proposing taxes on second homes and tourist fees for Mission Bay Park
Energy consultant Bill Powers won advocating municipalizing SDG&E—then admitted "the community just doesn't have trust in the city's ability to manage something complicated"
Gloria lost his panel but generated headlines with the Harbor Police merger

The overarching theme: "a lack of public trust in the city of San Diego. Whether it's taxes, policing, or utilities, the skepticism about how City Hall manages power and money loomed over every discussion."

The Bonhomme Richard Disaster: When Free Services Failed

On July 12, 2020, fire broke out aboard USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego. The fire took four days to extinguish, injured at least 63 sailors and civilians, and caused such damage that the Navy scrapped the $750 million ship rather than spend up to $3.2 billion repairing it.

San Diego Fire Department crews didn't spray water on the fire until nearly two hours after it started—by then it was too late. Harbor Police fireboats provided only initial support before being joined by Navy tugs from as far away as Long Beach. The response was "disjointed, poorly coordinated and confusing."

Here's the critical context: At any other Navy port, that catastrophic failure would have been a Navy-funded fire department's responsibility. At Norfolk or Pearl Harbor, Navy-employed federal firefighters with proper marine firefighting equipment would have responded. In San Diego, the Port District absorbed the cost of an inadequate response to protect Navy assets—while the Navy paid nothing.

How Navy Funds Security and Firefighting Everywhere Else

Norfolk, Virginia—World's Largest Naval Station:

Naval Station Norfolk occupies 4 miles of waterfront with 14 piers housing 75 ships and 134 aircraft, conducting over 100,000 flight operations annually.

Police/Security: The base employs 385 sailors and Department of Navy civilian police officers operating from a state-of-the-art 'Gold Star Police Precinct' opened in 2024. All Navy-funded.

Fire Department: Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire Services provides aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF), structure and shipboard firefighting, emergency medical services, technical rescue, and hazmat/CBRNE response. Multiple fire stations with specialized marine firefighting equipment. All Navy-funded.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Fire Department employs 35 civilian Department of Defense firefighters providing structure firefighting, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, and technical rescue. Norfolk Naval Shipyard has hosted the annual Robert E. Rumens Marine Firefighting School since 1991. All Navy-funded.

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii—Pacific Fleet Headquarters:

Police/Security: Port Operations at Navy Region Hawaii is staffed by military and civilian professionals who man, train, and equip the installations. Master-at-Arms (military police) and Department of Navy Police. All Navy-funded.

Federal Fire Department Hawaii: Established in 1941, Federal Fire Hawaii provides aircraft rescue and firefighting, structural, shipboard and wildlife fire suppression, advanced life support, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazmat services, and fire prevention for thirteen military installations on Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii. With nearly 300 personnel operating from 13 fire stations, FFD provides firefighting, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, and technical rescue services to all military service branches on Oahu. All Navy-funded.

The Pattern: At every major Navy port, the Navy budgets $40-60 million annually for combined security and firefighting. These installations don't benefit from separate civilian agencies absorbing costs.

San Diego's Unique Subsidy

San Diego is the only major Navy port where a civilian agency provides comprehensive maritime law enforcement AND marine firefighting for Navy assets at zero Navy cost.

Navy's San Diego Footprint:

Four major installations (Naval Base San Diego, Naval Station San Diego, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma)
55,000 people daily through Naval Base San Diego gates
Dozens of warships including nuclear submarines
Three major shipyards including NASSCO (National Steel and Shipbuilding Company), the largest new-construction shipyard on the west coast specializing in Navy ships
Plans to increase dry dock capacity for emergent and potential wartime repairs

What Navy Gets Free:

Harbor Police's $57.5 million budget represents 18% of Port operating expenses. This covers:

Maritime law enforcement protecting Navy facilities
Marine firefighting (though inadequate, as Bonhomme Richard proved)
Anti-terrorism operations
Airport security at San Diego International
Joint Harbor Operations Center established in 2002 as a national model, where Harbor Police dispatchers work with U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, California National Guard and Customs and Border Protection

Federal Partnerships That Shift Costs:

Harbor Police manages Department of Homeland Security grant funding and participates in federally-funded Operation Stonegarden. Harbor Police officers serve on Regional Narcotics Task Force, Marine Task Force (ICE-based), and Joint Terrorism Task Force (FBI-based), with some officers federally sworn. Port pays salaries; federal agencies get enhanced capabilities.

In 2022, the Navy signed a "first-of-its-kind" agreement to access California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard market by plugging ships into shore power, with proceeds funding Naval Base San Diego electrification. Port invested in infrastructure; Navy gets utility improvements.

Who Pays: Cruise Ships and Cargo Operations

Direct spending by the cruise industry in FY2023 totaled over $104 million, with cruises generating approximately $184 million in total economic impact. Each ship call generates $378,000 in local spending. Cruise lines pay docking fees, wharfage fees, and head taxes supporting Port operations including Harbor Police.

Cruise operations will nearly double from 107 voyages with 390,000 passengers in 2025-26 to 190 calls with 800,000 passengers in 2026-27.

The port handles 2.4 million metric tons of cargo annually, including 362,000 vehicles—one in eight imported nationwide. Cargo operators pay terminal fees supporting operations.

For fiscal 2025, the Port expects $315.7 million in revenue against $229 million in expenses. Commercial tenants pay for security and firefighting protecting military assets worth billions. The Navy pays nothing.

Where Is Congress?

San Diego Congressional Delegation:

Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50) - Budget Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee
Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) - Armed Services Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee
Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) - Financial Services Committee

This delegation has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness on regional Navy issues:

The delegation secured over $400 million for Tijuana River Valley wastewater treatment plant upgrades. They celebrated military funding wins including nearly $205 million for medical and dental facilities at MCAS Miramar and Marine Corps Recruit Depot. They secured $39 million for migrant shelter services.

Representatives Juan Vargas, Scott Peters, Sara Jacobs, Darrell Issa, and Mike Levin sent a letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro investigating the impact of sewage pollution on Navy SEAL training, demonstrating willingness to demand Navy accountability on environmental issues affecting military readiness.

But on Navy subsidies for Harbor Police? Silence.

The delegation has never:

Questioned why San Diego Harbor Police provides services the Navy funds elsewhere
Introduced legislation requiring Navy cost-sharing for civilian-provided security
Held hearings examining Navy's disparate treatment of San Diego
Requested GAO study comparing Navy security funding across ports
Inserted defense appropriations language addressing the disparity

Why This Matters: These representatives sit on committees with Navy oversight. They have direct access to Navy leadership. They regularly secure military funding for San Diego. They've challenged Navy on environmental issues. Yet they've ignored a $20-25 million annual subsidy flowing from cruise passengers and cargo shippers to Navy operations.

Who Else Should Act—But Hasn't

Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners:

The Port is governed by a seven-member Board: one commissioner appointed by each city council of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach and National City, and three commissioners appointed by San Diego City Council. The Board makes policy decisions, enacts regulations, and controls budget allocation.

The Board could:

Quantify Navy's proportional usage of Harbor Police services
Request formal cost-sharing negotiations with Navy Region Southwest
Demand Navy contribution as condition for continued cooperation
Lobby congressional delegation for legislative support

In 2023, the Port and Navy negotiated a deal where the Navy relinquished its lease at 1220 Pacific Highway, with the Port providing $5.75 million in improvements to the Navy. This proves Navy-Port financial negotiations are possible.

But the Board has never publicly demanded Navy cost-sharing despite Harbor Police's $57.5 million budget protecting billions in military assets.

Member City Councils:

The five city councils appoint Port Commissioners and could instruct appointees to demand Navy cost-sharing. San Diego City Council—appointing three of seven commissioners—has particular leverage.

But they're discussing a merger instead. Rather than demanding Navy pay its fair share, Mayor Gloria floats absorbing Harbor Police into SDPD—perpetuating the subsidy.

Gloria's Proposal: The Wrong Solution

Gloria claims merging Harbor Police into SDPD would add 140 officers to a department 140 short of its 2,000-officer goal. SDPD employs 1,860 officers—about 1.3 per 1,000 residents versus a 2.4 national average.

Fatal Flaws:

Jurisdictional Chaos: Harbor Police serves five cities across 14,000+ acres. Would San Diego gain police powers over four other cities' waterfronts? Who maintains airport security?

Financial Mystery: Would the Port continue funding, or would cash-strapped San Diego absorb $57.5 million annually?

Mission Mismatch: Absorbing 140 maritime officers doesn't create 140 street cops. Without maintaining specialized equipment—boats, marine firefighting apparatus, training—the merger converts maritime specialists into land-based police while creating governance chaos.

Perpetuates Navy Subsidy: Rather than forcing Navy cost-sharing, Gloria wants the City to absorb a regional function the Navy should fund directly.

The Port declined comment. Police Chief Wahl offered no position. Gloria admitted he was "throwing ideas out there." A mayoral spokesperson called it "still in the very early conversations stage."

The San Diego Society of Professional Journalists gave Gloria its "Wall Award" for making it "difficult for journalists to do their jobs by ignoring information requests." During 2024 campaigns, he declined debate invitations from at least five organizations.

The Real Solution

Fair Navy Cost-Sharing:

Navy facilities represent ~40% of San Diego Bay waterfront activity
Navy vessels constitute majority requiring security responses
Harbor Police provides anti-terrorism, security, firefighting protecting military assets
Fair Navy contribution: $20-25 million annually (proportional to usage and matching what Navy spends elsewhere)

This Would:

Fund proper firefighting tugs and equipment Harbor Police needs
Maintain regional governance across five cities
Reflect actual usage of services
Establish precedent for Navy cost-sharing at other ports
Address Bonhomme Richard-revealed deficiencies

Action Plan:

Congressional Delegation Should:

Request GAO study comparing Navy security/fire funding across ports
Insert defense appropriations language requiring Navy cost-sharing where civilian agencies provide maritime security
Hold hearings on Navy's disparate treatment of San Diego
Demand Navy Region Southwest negotiate cost-sharing with Port

Port Commission Should:

Commission independent analysis of Navy's proportional Harbor Police usage
Formally request cost-sharing negotiations with Navy
Engage congressional delegation for legislative support
Make Navy contribution condition for future partnerships

Member City Councils Should:

Instruct Port Commissioners to demand Navy cost-sharing
Support congressional delegation efforts
Reject Gloria's merger until Navy funding resolved

Alternative SDPD Improvements:

Enhanced recruitment and retention
Expanded drone use similar to Chula Vista's program
AI tools reducing report-writing time
Stronger regional cooperation

The Bottom Line

Every year without Navy cost-sharing represents:

$20-25 million in foregone revenue
Continued subsidy from commercial operations to military
Missed opportunity to fix Harbor Police deficiencies
Precedent that Navy needn't pay for services it funds everywhere else

Gloria's merger appears driven by political opportunism, not operational necessity. The Bonhomme Richard fire revealed Harbor Police deficiencies—but a merger would:

Transfer five-city regional asset to single-city control
Create massive jurisdictional complications
Potentially dilute limited maritime capabilities
Require unclear funding worsening city finances
Expand City Hall power when trust is demonstrably low
Perpetuate rather than fix Navy's free ride

The real scandal isn't that Harbor Police needs better equipment—it's that the Navy expects cruise passengers and cargo shippers to fund security and firefighting for billions in military assets.

At Norfolk, despite 2014 security failures resulting in Master at Arms 2nd Class Mark Mayo's death due to "gross lack of procedural compliance, accountability and oversight," the Navy continues funding rather than expecting Virginia to absorb costs.

If the Navy wants San Diego to remain a major West Coast port while expanding operations, it should pay proportionally for maritime security and firefighting as it does everywhere else. That $20-25 million annually would buy the equipment Harbor Police needs—without governance chaos.

What San Diego needs isn't Mayor Gloria's politically motivated power grab. It's congressional leadership demanding the Navy pay its fair share.

Someone needs to act. The question is: Who will go first?

Sources

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