Carmel Valley police captain details crime issues

Department targeting car prowls, burglaries

By Karen Billing

Staff Writer

Captain Miguel Rosario, of Carmel Valley’s Northwestern Division Police Station, visited the Carmel Valley Community Planning Board Oct. 28 to talk about crime issues in the community.

Rosario wore a mourning band over his police badge, honoring Officer Christopher A. Wilson, who was shot and killed in the line of duty in the Skyline area of San Diego on Oct. 28.

“It’s a reminder to us that there are people in the community who are committed to committing crimes,” Rosario said, referencing the incident in which the 50-year-old Wilson, a 17-year veteran, was killed. “It’s a reminder to us how dangerous our job is.”

Rosario said that even though crime is down in Carmel Valley, the police department’s job is to continue to upgrade, train and keep the momentum going in fighting the crime that they do have.

He said one area they have targeted is car prowls (when items are stolen out of cars) and car thefts. In the last four months, car prowls are down 42 percent and car thefts are down 25 percent.

Another area they are looking at is burglaries, which he feels is tied to drug addicts committing thefts for money to buy drugs. In response, they have targeted addicts and drug dealers and he said they have been able to knock down burglary crimes.

Rosario additionally expressed his concerns about Prop D, the sales tax measure which San Diego will vote on this week. He said that the Northwestern Division has already made several cuts over the last few years and if Prop D does not pass, he will have to eliminate positions such as juvenile service officers and the community relations officer. With the station staffed at 30 officers, he said there might be nights when he can only cover two or three of his seven beats.

Rosario reiterated that it’s important for residents to continue to be the eyes and ears in the community and to alert the department of anything that seems unusual. “If you see something that doesn’t look right, it’s your neighborhood, you’re probably right,” Rosario said, noting that people can call dispatch at 911 or the station at (858) 523-7000.