As cops, you're used to a straight-forward, no nonsense approach to the facts. So, instead of allowing others to communicate – and perhaps color reality, I thought it would be most helpful if you heard directly from me.

No one appreciates the outstanding work you do every day for this City more than I. My years spent as an officer and ultimately as Chief of the San Diego Police Department were the most rewarding of my life. I will always be proud to be associated with the San Diego Police Department.

I know the past few years have been difficult for you as police officers. I recognize that staffing numbers are problematic. In most cases, you have endured no increases to your pay or benefits, and in fact, many of you have seen a take-home pay decrease.

It was simply not financially possible for any employees, including our police officers, to receive pay and benefit increases this year. I wholeheartedly wish that the City's current financial situation could permit me to address this immediately, but that isn't possible.

However, we are working over-time to address our financial troubles and return our city to financial health. The City has commissioned a comprehensive compensation survey for pay and benefits. I have asked that the portion for the police department be completed no later than December. It is my intention to use the results of the survey as the basis for our negotiations with the police union and to re-enter negotiations as early as the beginning of next year. While I can make no promises, as the city's finances recover, we hope to be able to reward you with the pay and benefit increases you deserve. I do believe that there light at the end of the tunnel.

In the meantime, I ask you to remain a proud member of the San Diego Police Department.

I ask you to stick with me and your fellow officers. I ask you to stick with the department that trained you and to stick with our citizens, who need you. We need you to stay; we want you to stay.

This won't be a one way street. I will stick with you by enacting reforms at City Hall that return our City to financial health and ensure that we never find ourselves in the same situation again. And I will stick with you by completing the compensation survey and the negotiations in a timely manner.

You work for a great department. The outstanding career opportunities that have always been such a vital part of the San Diego Police Department are still present and thriving. The opportunities for advancement, promotion and specialized assignments remain very good. This is still the best police force in the region as you move up the line.

If you are considering leaving the department, I ask you to reconsider.

Like all of you, at various times during my career as a cop, I grew frustrated because I didn't think that those in positions of authority understood or respected what I did. At points, I didn't think that people valued my contributions to the City. I experienced some pretty bad times, including a few periods in which we were not given raises for a number of years. I don't mean this as comfort, but as some of the old-timers will tell you, what you are experiencing today has all happened before. We managed to ride it out knowing that we were part of something bigger – that we worked for the best law enforcement agency in the region and the country. We got through it. Things worked themselves out. And I eventually realized what a mistake it would have been to make a short-sighted decision to leave the department mid-career.

There is no finer police department in this country. I'm proud to be your Mayor, and I look forward to working side by side with you in the future. Thank you.