Numerous, distinctively different buildings served the Ocean Beach Division during its time in existence.
The 1930's, Spanish Colonial inspired building, located at the foot of Newport Avenue, with its iconic tower and red tile roof was most likely
the latest version.
If so, that would render it the last location to serve as the
Ocean Beach Substation.
Lieutenant Robert J. Karrow was assigned to the Ocean Beach station in the mid to late 1930’s and it was there he began his “college of knowledge” of in service training to SDPD officers.
At one time, when counting motorcycle officers and police lifeguards, the
Ocean Beach substation had more
SDPD personnel assigned to it
than any other station.
It was SDPD's busiest command.
Sergeant George W. Churchman and his officers of the Ocean Beach substation. Like many other stations of the era, the men worked out of a
leased storefront.
A zoo cage on the outside of the building served as a holding cell.
When Churchman made it known he wanted to bring the cell inside the building the owner answered with an emphatic "No. The doors aren't big enough to allow the cage inside."
Apparently not one to take no for an answer, Churchman and his men waited until the sun went down. Armed with handsaws, the policemen litterally cut the back of the building off. Once they slid the cage inside, the men hammered the back of the building back in place as best as they could.
The owner was outraged but the resourceful Sergean Churchman had his holding cell.
