THE THIN BLUE LINE

A fourth generation San Diego native, known to most as “Doug”, had been around SDPD almost all of his life.  At the age of 13, he often visited his uncle, Jack Tague, a homicide detective, at 801 W. Market Street. He joined the SDPD Explorer Post 250 in 1973 at the age of 14.

In 1976 he became a cadet officer and later a cadet sergeant and a reserve officer in the El Cajon Police Department. Wanting to return to SDPD, he was accepted to the 4th Regional Police Academy in 1981. Upon completion of field training, Doug was assigned to the Central Patrol Division.

While working there in September of 1984, he was the first officer on the scene within seconds of the tragedy in Grape Street Park that left two officers dead and another injured. While admitting that there are things he still wont talk about, he has spoken with officers several times in an effort to help them deal with some of the tragic events of the business.

Assigned to the Central patrol Division until 1988, Doug transferred to the Accident Investigation Bureau at the Traffic Division. There, he developed his expertise as a collision reconstructionist, and has been involved in hundreds of serious injury and fatal traffic collision investigations. He is also involved in the training of newly assigned traffic officers and is an instructor of Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) approved collision investigation courses. As a private consultant, he has been involved in crash testing and research in several states. Doug has written technical articles and research papers that have been published by both of the major trade journals, as well as the International Society of Automotive Engineers.

A favorite segment of his career was while he was assigned to the Air Support unit as a Tactical Flight Officer. In early 2006 he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the Southern Patrol Division, where he stayed for almost four years before returning to the Accident Investigation Bureau.

In early 1997, Doug approached Gary Mitrovich with the idea of forming a museum to preserve and display the history of the SDPD. Together, they approached the San Diego Police Officers Association and began to gain momentum toward their goal.

In August of 1997, with growing support, a board of directors was organized and the San Diego Police Historical Association was founded.

As President, Doug was part of the team that fought to preserve the old police headquarters at 801 W. Market Street, which included testifying in front of the San Diego City Council, San Diego Unified Port Commission and the California Coastal Commission.

Doug has been awarded numerous Commanding Officer Citations as well as being selected as the San Diego Police Officers Association’s “Officer of the Shift”. He is a recipient of the SDFD’s Life Saving Award as well the SDPD’s Meritorious Service Medal for freeing two hostages that had been handcuffed and bound during the robbery of a jewelry store. Then, staying with a third robbery victim that had been handcuffed and bound, with a hand grenade strapped to his body, held the “spoon” of the grenade for almost an hour until EOD technicians arrived and removed it.

SERGEANT JAMES D. "DOUG" ENGLISH

BADGE 322, ID 3225

SDPD 08/18/1981 - 10/12/2013

12/24/1958 - 04/07/2021

Doug English served as San Diego Police Historical Association President

from 1997 - 2000

Basic information is provided as a courtesy and is obtained from a variety of sources including public data, museum files and or other mediums.  While the San Diego Police Historical Association strives for accuracy, there can be issues beyond our control which renders us unable to attest to the veracity of what is presented. More specific information may be available if research is conducted.  Research is done at a cost of $50 per hour with no assurances of the outcome.  For additional info please contact us.

Nephew of Detective Jack Tague