Good morning, councilmembers. My name is Branden Sigua and I am a senior policy advocate for the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties.
The city charter requires the city council to consider the needs of San Diego residents and the best interests of the city when making decisions. Residents do not need unlawful searches, sexual harassment, falsification of records and excessive force. It is not in our best interests to devastate families and communities, cause lasting physical and emotional trauma, and expose taxpayers to significant financial liability.
For the last decade, the San Diego Police Department paid at least $116 million in settlements and judgements, the majority of which were for civil rights violations and police shootings. In 2026 alone, police misconduct settlements exceeded $42.5 million – about $15 million more than the settlements paid by all other city departments combined. This should not be the cost of doing business.
We hope the city seriously considers proactive harm prevention policies over tort reform, which has been documented to have a “troubling and disproportionate effect on racial and ethnic minorities who have been injured and seek justice through civil courts.” At a time when San Diego faces budget deficits and continues to underinvest in essential programs, services and infrastructure, holding law enforcement accountable for misconduct is not only a moral imperative, but a fiscal necessity.
Thank you.