La Mesa Police Department Storefront

Went to the storefront with a client to make a complaint about an officer. The client had called LMPD after she was threatened with a knife and chased from her own home. The dispatcher transferred the call directly to an officer, which I’d never heard of before but thought was pretty cool. But then the officer said he was not going to see her, that it was a civil matter, and that she needed to get a restraining order. Last time I checked the Penal Code it was assault with a deadly weapon. And refusing to even send someone? Totally unheard of.
We met with a portly sergeant to took a report of the incident, and then defended the officer. I advised him that a single threatening act does not satisfy the elements of a civil harassment restraining order, and recommending one five minutes after the court house had closed was, at the very least, silly. He refused to identify the officer, and refused to even take a complaint. He said he would follow up with us about the criminal matter against the assailant, but here we are nearly a year later and he hasn’t.
Then a friend’s trailer was stolen in the middle of the night from my driveway. It’s registered with the DMV, and I got the information and visited to make a stolen vehicle report. «Oh, it’s not registered to you, so you can’t report that it was stolen.» Huh? It was in my possession and was stolen from me. What about a student from SDSU with a friend’s car? «Oh, that’s different.» Huh?
In more than five years, I have yet to see one of their officers smile, or say please. What ever happened to «serve and protect?»

This review is not a review of the storefront but rather four police officers that responded when I was in a crisis. Finding yourself in your underwear and flip flops because you forgot to take your medication could be a horrific and embarassing situation. However, I was treated with great courtesy as I struggled to remember my name and phone number. (I lived only a block and ½ away. The four officers were gentleman to the max. I never felt in danger and I never felt that I was being looked at like a crazy person. Soon I’ll go to the department hq to thank these men personally or at least to report my excellent experience to the department supervisors. Things could have turned out much worse for me. Thank you LMPD.

Pretty good service overall.
Reported at 7am that our car was stolen. Was advised that since it was a Camry, not likely to be found. That was a bit upsetting. However, by 5pm received a call that it was located! They advised us if we picked it up ASAP there would be no impound fees. I found overall that all of the individuals involved were courteous and listened to my questions and concerns. They were very responsive. I hope the caught the person that stole the car and that he/​she serves some time.

Dude. I felt like I’d been sent to the principals office. Like, I felt like I was busted for something. No «Hello», no «How are you», no smiles anywhere in this office. It was as if I’d walked in with a sign around my neck that said «speeds, steals, and hurts puppies».
I needed a Livescan. Yes they tried to fit me in (and thus 2 stars), but when I decided to leave when the wait was too long, trying to get another appointment was like asking for a kidney donation. I couldn’t make the first one offered, so I asked what else was available. The woman said «That’s all I have, there’s nothing else available»!!! WTF??? Like, until the end of time? I pressed her and she crankily offered me something about two weeks later. I cancelled that one and went somewhere else.
Go elsewhere for your fingerprint and police matters.

AH … the nightmare.
This is the place where the RSVP (retired service volunteer patrol) are stationed … a fleet of retired Police cars driven around by retirees.
Nice idea as a crime deterent, until the run into your car in the parking lot.
The people were always nice to me at the storefront, so that is no problem, but the offender was kept mightily secret and the city of La Mesa took 2 months to settle with my insurance company … and the meanwhile I was out my detuctable.
Overall nice enough folks, but I felt like noone was willing to take responsibility for the actions that had occured.
Oh well.
They really are nice folks, all in all.

Never before have I felt more uncomfortable in a situation like this before. No, not because I am a criminal who needs fingerprinting, but because of the hostile and unpleasant attitudes of the staff members.
Before I go on, I’d like to say that at least I was able to get an appointment this morning when I called in and was taken on time. This was nice of them. However, when I walked into get fingerprinting done for a new job, I was not greeted with a «hello» or any kind of smile. A very mean «WRITE YOUR ADDRESS DOWN» was the only thing said to me when I put my forms of the counter. Then came the identification hassle and I swear these older ladies never have seen a drivers permit in their life. We argued about how if it was valid because I have «had it since January»… wouldn’t that be the same thing if I HAD a license? My goodness. So they almost didn’t let me proceed with it. The lady who took my fingerprints grabbed my hands so forcefully and not a smile would crack on this ladies face; not even a bit of small talk. As soon as I was done, I got a grimacing look when I asked to borrow their stapler to ensure I didn’t lose their stupid papers that I needed.
Anyone who has to go get fingerprints done, please do not try to be nice to these ladies, they already hate you.