safety ambassadors

Providing additional safety services in Downtown’s urban neighborhoods 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.  

KEEPING IT SAFE

The Property Business Improvement District – otherwise known as the Downtown Partnership Clean & Safe programhas provided enhanced services beyond those otherwise available to keep 275 blocks of Downtown neighborhoods clean, safe, and thriving for more than 20 years. This means that if you live, work, or play in the area managed by Clean & Safe, services like safety checks, business visits, directional assistance, trash pickup, homeless outreach, and more are provided to benefit Downtown.  

About Safety Ambassadors

Safety ambassadors are additional eyes and ears for Downtown neighborhoods.  

They conduct welfare checks, provide safe walks home, give directions to those who need them and check in on businesses when business owners can’t be there in person. Our safety ambassadors also work closely with our unhoused care team to connect people with resources they need and expert assistance should they be experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.  

A Unique Service for Downtown’s Neighborhoods

Safety ambassadors are not affiliated with law enforcement, but often work collaboratively with neighborhood policing and other divisions of the City of San Diego’s Police Department on behalf of Downtown’s neighborhoods, businesses, and residents. 

SAFETY AMBASSADORS HELP TO:

  • Conduct wellness checks for those who may be in danger or at risk 

  • Deter aggressive panhandling* 

  • Assist with directions and hospitality for visitors and community members  

  • Maintain open communications with police to report ongoing issues and illegal activity 

  • Add a presence in Downtown to prevent undesirable behavior 

  • Provide safe walk services to accompany you to your destination  

  • Maintain a network of communication throughout Downtown by engaging with private and public security companies 

*As defined in the San Diego Municipal Code

Safety Stats FY22-23

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134,000

Security Checks

73,000

Hospitality Checks

4,000

Directional Assistence

Downtown’s 24/7 Support

Thanks to Clean & Safe, there is a local contact for community members to call for assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. In addition to responding to service calls (often within minutes), Ambassadors can be seen in Downtown every day assisting community members and identifying the needs and challenges of each urban neighborhood to constantly improve the services they provide. 

Additional Resources

Explore downtown

File a Letter of Agency for your business as another available tool to help keep your property safe while you’re away.

Reporting A Crime

Use the Citizen’s Online Police Reporting System to report a crime. If this is an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

Need C&S safety services?  

Call 619-234-8900, text 619-414-2698, or file a service request below. 

Want to join the team?

We’re looking for good people who want to give back to their community.  

Keeping it Safe

Clean & Safe Safety Ambassadors enhance and complement the City of San Diego’s Police Department. Safety Ambassadors act as an extra set of “eyes and ears” for law enforcement and property owners and respond to service calls in a matter of minutes.

Safety Ambassadors help to:

-Deter aggressive panhandling* and other nuisance behavior
-Assist with directions and information
-Maintain open communications with police to report ongoing issues
-Add a presence in Downtown to prevent undesirable behavior
-Provide safety escort services
-Maintain a network of communication throughout Downtown by engaging with private and public security companies

*As defined in the San Diego Municipal Code: http://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter05/Ch05Art02Division40.pdf