President, Management Alert Group, Ltd.,

Co-chairman Drug Abatement Task Force San Diego Apartment Association

And Scott Silverman

Vice - President, Management Alert Group, Ltd.,

Co-chairman Drug Abatement Task Force San Diego Apartment Association

This month we want to focus on an innovative program used by the San Diego Police department, Southeast Division.  This information was provided by Nancy McPherson, Police Executive Research Forum, and Officer Guy Swanger, WE-CAN, San Diego Police Department.

Problem-Oriented Policing

Problem-oriented policing (POP) is a new, innovative approach to combating the scourge of illegal narcotic activity now in use in five cities across the nation – Tampa, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Tulsa and San Diego.  POP is an agency-wide strategy that guides police officers in solving recurring drug problems on their beats.

Traditionally, the police strategy has been incident-driven – that is, a citizen calls to report a crime, the police respond to the call, take a report, and try to solve the crime.

However, responding to crimes that have already been committed means the underlying conditions that created the crime are not being addressed.  POP moves beyond reacting to single incidents; instead it examines the problems that cause incidents to occur.

A case in point

On their beat in Southeast San Diego, San Diego Police Officers Dave Walker and Gail Arcediano noticed a tremendous amount of foot and vehicle traffic at a particular apartment complex.  The seventy-unit complex was only six months old when the drug problems erupted.  The officers noted an escalation in radio calls dispatched to the property address, and they observed drugs being sold and used openly.

When fellow officers began applying selective enforcement at the complex, Walker and Arcediano directed their attention to what they thought was the problem – renters who were using and selling drugs or allowing drug dealers to use their apartments as a haven from the police.

The officers quickly established a liaison with the management company responsible for the complex.  Once this relationship was established, the officers sought assistance from the narcotic and gang detectives within their own department.   This effort culminated in five search warrants being served simultaneously at the complex, which resulted in numerous arrests.

While the arrests were being made, the management company served eviction notices on the residents identified as problems by the police.  At the suggestion of the officers, the management company also implemented additional security measures, including a security door on the laundry room where drug transactions were routinely conducted.

Today, narcotic activity is virtually nonexistent at this complex, as evidenced by greatly reduced calls for police assistance and by on-site observations made by the officers.

What made the difference?

What made the difference on this property?  It was the result of cooperation between police officers, the resident manager and the management company.  Management began a program to screen prospective residents more carefully and increased the overall security on the property.  These are appropriate weapons in combating drug activity on private property.

The POP war against drugs in Southeast San Diego has produced a “triangle of effort” from the Police Department, the Housing Commission and Management Alert.  Police officials have worked closely with Housing Commission administrators to identify and disqualify Section 8 renters who are engaged in criminal activity.

How Management Alert works

Another reservoir of support for both agencies is Management Alert, a group of property owners and managers in Southeast San Diego concerned with drug-related crimes on their properties.  Management Alert has provided an essential service by educating its members about the importance of screening renters, identifying potential drug problems and working with police and other agencies to solve existing problems.  

In addition to providing education, Management Alert members share their own “how to” successes and “hot not to” failures with other concerned owners and managers.

Will a problem-oriented approach be effective in dealing with complex drug problems in San Diego?  POP is a long-term strategy now in its infancy nationwide.  What is important is that law enforcement is combining interagency tactics with traditional approaches to make a noticeable impact on the problems that plaque our city.

Based on this approach it can easily be seen that owners, managers, police and the Housing Commission – in essence, everyone who is involved with rental property – must be willing to give 100 percent in the fight against drugs and crime.  No single group can solve this monumental problem; we must work together.

Becoming a member of Management Alert should be one of your top priorities this year.  With the cooperation and assistance of SDAA, Management Alert will hold monthly meetings in five areas throughout San Diego County and begin interacting with agencies in each area.   For information on Management Alert, you may contact our office at 558-6418.

Reprinted from

Rental Owner Magazine