$3 Million Security Fence Construction Begins at SDPD Downtown Headquarters

Construction began this week on a $3.01 million security fence encircling the San Diego Police Department's downtown headquarters at 1401 Broadway, a project that has been in planning since approximately 2018.

The fence will stand 8 to 10 feet high and is designed to align security at SDPD Headquarters with measures already in place at other police facilities, according to a Sept. 28 department news release.

SDPD said the headquarters building "experiences frequent vandalism, disturbances, trespassing, and, recently, had an employee assaulted in the parking lot."

The design incorporates public access accommodations: outer gates along Broadway will permit entry to the grass and public park spaces in front of the building and will remain open 24/7, though they can be closed when security needs require it. The main Broadway entrance will remain open to the public during business hours, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Employee-only zones, the E Street walkway, and the main parking lot will transition to secure key-card access.

The $3.01 million total covers design, materials, permits, and construction. The design phase was completed in May 2022, with physical installation only beginning this week. Construction is expected to last several months with limited impact on public access, though minor parking disruptions around the building are anticipated.