SDPD Southern division will bring back walk-up services amid mold concerns

The San Diego Police Department’s Southern Division in the Palm City neighborhood will open to walk-up services Monday after it was closed last week due to mold concerns, the SDPD said Sunday.

Using a mobile command unit positioned inside a secured gate, the department will provide typical services that a resident might receive when walking into the station for assistance. The location at 1120 27th St. will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Common services include but are not limited to auto theft reports, missing persons reports, signing off citations, court information, property release requests, vehicle burglary reports, miscellaneous theft reports, and hit-and-run accident reports. Many crimes can also be reported online at sandiego.gov/police.

Those needing assistance can park in the main lot and will be helped by officers working the mobile front counter.

Residents should continue to dial 911 for emergencies. For non- emergencies, the number to call is 619-531-2000.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Southern Division station was closed to the public and SDPD employees on Tuesday due to a potential mold issue at the facility. The city has taken several steps to assess and remedy the issue, according to the SDPD.

“On Thursday, Oct. 1, the city completed a thorough cleaning of the facility. This was done by a professional contract vendor to ensure that all furniture, walls, floors, carpets and other areas are cleaned using a specialized concentration of antimicrobial cleansing agent,” according to a statement by the SDPD. “Additionally, upon completion of the cleaning, the contractor fogged the interior of the facility with the same agent to eliminate the potential for amplification of mold spores that are not visible.”

The department added that a visual assessment of the HVAC ducting on Friday did not reveal any immediate signs of mold in the system.

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality began an Indoor Air Quality investigation on Friday. Samples collected during that inspection have been sent for rush analysis and those will give additional insight into next steps, according to officials.

Southern Division patrol officers will continue to temporarily operate out of the Southeastern Division, responding to calls for service as usual. The SDPD will provide additional information as it becomes available.