San Diego police, lifeguards and park rangers have increased their presence at Sunset Cliffs amid a rise in people jumping from the cliffs, with police issuing more than 20 citations and 300 warnings in the past two weeks. The increased enforcement comes as the City of San Diego considers what mo re can be done to deter cliff jumping at Sunset Cliffs following a series of serious rescues, including another rescue within the last 24 hours. The San Diego Police Department said it is aware of an increase in people jumping from the cliffs and warned that the activity is illegal and extremely dangerous. Some of those cases have resulted in serious injuries. “In some cases, those injuries could have been life-threatening had it not been for the quick response and actions of San Diego lifeguards and other rescue personnel” SDPD said in a statement, in part. San Diego Jul 28 Days after teen hurt in cliff jump, lifeguards called to back-to-back rescues at Sunset Cliffs Point Loma Jul 26 Teen hospitalized after dangerous jump from Sunset Cliffs, video shows “We will continue to strongly discourage anyone from jumping from the cliffs and will work to reduce these dangerous incidents through education, enforcement, and, when appropriate, citations or criminal charges.” San Diego Fire-Rescue lifeguards were at Sunset Cliffs on Monday practicing rescue techniques and preparing for the type of emergency calls that have been coming in frequently in recent weeks. Charlie Knight, a Marine Safety Lieutenant with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, addressed the longstanding problem last month after a 17-year-old was taken to the hospital after attempting a jump that was captured on video.  “People have been jumping Sunset Cliffs for a very long time,” Knight said. “Lifeguards patrol the area, we make warnings, we make PAs, we do the best that we can but as soon as we leave, they group up again and they start jumping.” NBC 7 reached out to San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, District 2 Councilmember Jennifer Campbell and the San Diego Police Department about the recent incidents and what additional deterrents or enforcement could look like. Gloria said the city will continue working with public safety officials to determine whether more can be done. “Cliff jumping at Sunset Cliffs is extremely dangerous and can result in catastrophic injury or death. The recent video involving a 17-year-old should be a warning to anyone considering taking this risk. Our lifeguards and police officers regularly respond to Sunset Cliffs and tell people to stop this dangerous activity. When someone ignores those warnings and jumps anyway, they are putting their own life at risk and potentially putting our first responders in harm’s way when they have to conduct a rescue. The City takes this seriously. We will continue working with our public safety teams to determine what more can be done to deter this behavior and keep people safe. My message is simple: Do not jump from the cliffs. No photo, video or thrill is worth your life.” Campbell also urged residents and visitors to stay away from cliff edges and follow posted warnings. “Following several recent incidents at Sunset Cliffs, I want to remind residents and visitors to prioritize safety and not jump from the cliffs or enter the ocean from dangerous and unstable areas. The cliffs can be unpredictable, and changing tides, strong currents, rough surf, and hidden rocks can quickly create life-threatening conditions. For safety stay on designated trails, keep a safe distance far away from cliff edges, follow all posted warnings, and never enter the ocean near the cliffs. We want everyone to enjoy the beauty of Sunset Cliffs while helping prevent avoidable tragedies.” What additional deterrents or enforcement measures could be implemented remains unclear. For now, police said authorities will continue using education and enforcement, including citations or criminal charges when appropriate, in an effort to reduce dangerous incidents at Sunset Cliffs. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less