Three new traffic motorcycle officers are enforcing traffic laws and noise rules on Coronado streets, but the police department remains 13 officers short of a full force.

A letter published Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the Coronado Eagle & Journal called on Mayor John Duncan to provide a staffing update at an upcoming City Council meeting. The writer asked for a breakdown of open positions and a progress report on recruiting.

The letter also stated a belief that Duncan recently ordered the department to reach full staffing by the end of 2026. No official record confirming that directive appeared in public documents.

Staffing gap

As of July, the Coronado Police Department (CPD) had 34 sworn officers on the force. A fully staffed department would have 47, according to The Coronado News. That left 13 positions unfilled.

Lt. Angel Cedeño, the department's recruitment officer, told The Coronado News in July that the gap was the worst in his two decades on the force. The shortage falls hardest on patrol, the division responsible for day-to-day calls for service.

Coronado Police Officers Association president Sgt. Darren Hamilton warned in that same July report that the department was "one critical incident away" from being overwhelmed.

Recruiting efforts

CPD has taken steps to close the gap. A new labor contract that took effect in September 2025 placed the department among the top-paying agencies in San Diego County, according to Lt. Cedeño. First responders received 6% raises in the past fiscal year, with total base pay increases exceeding 17% over the contract's three-year term.

The department also added a $20,000 hiring incentive and redesigned its recruitment website. Applications nearly doubled after the contract took effect, and three new officers joined the force as of July.

One structural constraint slows hiring: CPD only recruits candidates who are already sworn officers or near police-academy graduates. It does not sponsor applicants through the academy.

Staffing as a campaign issue

Police staffing has surfaced in the current City Council race. Candidate Kelly Purvis noted Coronado has "a limited number of patrol officers," according to The Coronado News. Candidate Rebecca King told the San Diego Union-Tribune the city "must make sure to adequately staff and equip our police department."

What's next

Coronado City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 1825 Strand Way. The next regular meeting falls on Tuesday, Oct. 20. No agenda for that meeting had been published as of Oct. 13.

Residents can contact the Coronado Police Department's non-emergency line at (619) 522-7350.