On Patrol with Damith Rodrigo, Harbor Police Officer

Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Contact: Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6222

On a recent afternoon, a small group of homeless men were camped beneath the sheltering arbors of a shuttered restaurant and seafood market when Harbor Police Officer Damith Rodrigo approached on foot.  Tension filled the bay front air.

Harbor Police Department Chief Announces Retirement

Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Contact: Ronald Powell (619) 686-6222; (619) 665-2815

Kirk Sanfilippo, a law enforcement veteran for more than three decades, the past four years as chief of the Port of San Diego’s Harbor Police Department, has announced his retirement effective Jan 5, 2010.

Sanfilippo disclosed his decision on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in a memorandum to all Harbor Police personnel.

Harbor Police Lieutenant Ken Franke to Retire

Monday, 05 October 2009
Contact: Dale Frost (619) 686-6200, John Gilmore (619) 341-5684

When Harbor Police Lieutenant Ken Franke was 13 years old, his father taught him how to operate the family’s 26-foot speedboat. “A half-hour later I was rescuing a man whose boat had gotten stuck in the rocks on the Niagara River,” Franke said.

During his years as a Harbor Police Officer, he has logged thousands of hours patrolling San Diego Bay aboard the vessel Point Loma, and has rescued many people who’ve fallen from boats and docks and ended up in the bay.  After more than 28 years of service to the Harbor Police Department, Franke is retiring on October 28, his 50th birthday.

Port of San Diego Awarded $1 Million Security Grant from the Department of Homeland Security

Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Contact: Marguerite Elicone (619) 686-6281

The Department of Homeland Security announced today the award of $150,000,000 for security improvements at 103 United States ports, including $1 million for the Port of San Diego.

Port of San Diego Executives Brief Coast Guard Commander on Security Issues

Wednesday, 19 August 2009

Region-wide cooperation among local, state and federal agencies to ensure a steady stream of grant funding to protect San Diego Bay and key installations was underscored during a Port of San Diego briefing for Rear Admiral Joseph “Pepe” Castillo, the head of the 11th Coast Guard District, which includes San Diego. The Rear Admiral made a courtesy call to Charlie Wurster, the Port’s president and CEO, who retired from the Coast Guard as a Vice Admiral.