Curfew Imposed to Protect Sailors From Crime

The Navy, in conjunction with the city of San Diego, imposed a curfew Thursday on all military personnel in and around the 32nd Street Naval Station, citing “an increasing number of violent crimes” against members of the armed forces.

The curfew takes effect Monday and will extend indefinitely from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily. The area affected extends from 28th Street on the north to Division Street on the south, and from Interstate 5 on the west to the perimeter of the naval station on the east.

Navy Capt. Mark Neuhart said the curfew became necessary because of a “rising tide” of violent crime in the 12-block area around the base. He blamed the problem on increasing levels of gang-related activity that, for the most part, targets sailors as victims.

“We have had everything from assaults to robberies to prostitution to attempted murder, waged mainly against sailors,” Neuhart said. “Our hope is that, if the curfew proves successful, we might examine such a measure in other areas of San Diego.”

San Diego police spokesman Bill Robinson said “the department has worked with all branches of the military to reduce crime where military personnel are victims. We do this in prostitution sweeps, narcotics operations and gang sweeps. But this is a situation where the Navy feels a curfew would assist in our day-to-day activities.”

Police Chief Bob Burgreen released this statement: “We join the Navy in its concern over the violence against sailors in the area around the naval station. By reducing the number of potential victims, this curfew will help our officers make this part of the city safer for everyone.”

The Navy said all business establishments on both sides of 28th Street, Main Street and Boston Avenue will be included in the curfew area.

They said military personnel apprehended by San Diego police in the designated area during curfew hours will be turned over to military authorities for further disciplinary action.

“Through this action, the Navy is sending a strong message to the criminal element that we will not let our sailors become victims of criminal activity,” Neuhart said. “In this particular area, the vast majority of the cases involve military members as the victims.

“We are trying to use every method at our disposal to address the growing criminal element in this area.”

Neuhart said that, although in most cases sailors have been the victims of such crimes, the curfew extends to members of the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps as well.