FUNDED BY THE GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE LIKE
YOU
JULY 2022 - JUNE 2023
Meet Walker, SDPD’s first Officer Wellness Canine Pg. 3
What we accomplished together. Every dime you donate supports initiatives like these that benefit our police, our communities, and our families. Equipment & Technology
+ 1,070 Resuscitation Kits, or air mask bag units, successfully funded for distribution to patrol officers who are often first on the scene in a medical emergency. This essential equipment safeguards both the rescuer and the patient from the health risks inherent in the exchange of breath. + Two Polaris Off-Road Vehicles were purchased to help Northern Division beach patrol navigate vast sandy terrain, where conventional patrol vehicles cannot maneuver, as they respond to dangerous situations and emergencies. + Bluetooth Radio Connection Kits were provided to the Special Investigations Unit, responsible for covert surveillance and orchestrating the apprehension of San Diego’s most dangerous criminals. These innovative radios enable team members to discreetly monitor and communicate through their Department radios. + Breaching Tools give officers the means necessary to peacefully resolve incidents involving barricaded individuals. Without these tools, officers would unlikely be able to overcome doors or security screens, hindering officers’ abilities to effect an arrest of a violent person or conduct rescues. Getting officers quickly inside a residence and to a person experiencing a medical emergency will save lives. + LED Lamps installed in the Communication Center allow team members to customize their lighting preferences, optimizing their efficiency and ensuring clear communication within this essential unit. + Computer Systems Upgrade for Northeastern Division to enhance efficiency and reduce time away from patrolling.
Officer Wellness
+ Provided seed funding for a centralized wellness center, which will offer SDPD sworn and civilian employees access to a state-of-the-art 24/7 fitness facility. This center will feature a variety of zones designed to help officers enhance heart health and prevent injuries. It will also include areas for group fitness, yoga, and mindfulness classes, as well as a recovery room for socializing and building connections. We believe happy and healthy officers foster strong community relationships.
Specialized Training
+ Women’s Leadership Scholarships provided for rising female personnel, both sworn and civilian, to attend and receive the training and mentoring opportunities needed to stay a step ahead in an occupation traditionally pursued by men. + Leadership Curriculum funded to bolster personal development and streamline succession planning in preparation for future leadership roles.
1 Funded by the generosity of people like YOU.
Community Outreach & Awareness
+ Inside SDPD, a dynamic, behind-the-scenes experience that allows attendees to step into the shoes of a police officer for a few hours, returned this year with the Police Foundation hosting two events. Led by San Diego police officers, community members have the unique opportunity to participate in de-escalation, use-of-force, vehicle stops, and simulated firearms training activities. + Food gift cards and MTS bus passes were funded for SDPD’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) to distribute to homeless individuals seeking services. Meeting the physical needs of the homeless community allows HOT to focus on breaking down barriers as well as helping provide shelter and service needs. The community benefits when homeless individuals transition out of homelessness. + Lights On! is an innovative community-driven program that partners with SDPD and auto service providers to replace fix-it tickets with repair vouchers. To strengthen police-community relations, this program stimulates positive interactions between police officers and the communities they serve, working to restore trust and solve problems. + The Mid-City Division Toy Drive provided funding for officers to buy gifts for underserved families in their community during the holiday season.
+ Gym rental and sports equipment was supplied for the Youth Boxing Program, managed by SDPD’s Gang Intervention Unit. The program instills responsibility, commitment to a task, and physical and mental conditioning. It is essential, not only for intervention and prevention but also, for building trust with juveniles in our communities. + RSVP Recruitment Kits for volunteer services to aid in bringing in additional retired senior volunteers. + Red Utility Wagons for School Safety Patrol to transport equipment for school crossing and signage. + Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, an annual event to honor SDPD’s nearly 1,000 volunteers who play a vital role in the safety and well-being of our community. They dedicate their time in many ways – giving comfort and care to crime victims, performing safety checks for ailing and aged San Diegans, patrolling high-traffic tourist attractions such as Balboa Park, filing reports for officers, directing traffic, and much more. This event helps reinvigorate and boost the morale of not only the volunteers, but our officers as well, by encompassing networking time, lunch served by the highest-ranking officers of SDPD, and an awards ceremony.
July 2022 - June 2023
2
The
Program
For the past 20 years, every police service dog at the San Diego Police Department has been purchased with funds donated by the community through the Police Foundation. These specialized canines safeguard public events, find missing persons, locate evidence, de-escalate dangerous situations, prevent shootings, and preserve life. Last year, the K9 Unit responded to nearly 21,000 calls, working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, benefiting all our communities. Approximately 195 times per year, canines are credited with being the exclusive reason a suspect surrenders. Our K9 Handlers deploy their dogs about 2,165 times per year with only 1% of interactions resulting in physical contact with the suspect. Most calls are resolved successfully by using the canines as de-escalation tools and psychological deterrents.
Police Service Dogs
+ Seven new K9 Crimefighters—Rocky, Chico, Duke, Brex, Bam Bam, Mangus, and Couga— followed in the paw prints of retired canines. These four-legged heroes are chosen for their strong play drive, agility, and intelligence. They clear areas before officers approach on foot and perform searches for fleeing or hidden suspects. Because they can cover up to four times the distance as their human partners, each dog saves SDPD nearly 700 service hours annually.
Officer Wellness Canine
+ Walker is SDPD’s first psychological support dog for mental health that can detect anxiety, sadness, anger, fear, and stress, helping officers and their families manage their emotional wellbeing. Assigned to the Wellness Unit, Walker offers support for officers after they respond to critical incidents.
K9 Vests
+ Bullet and Stab-resistant K9 Vests protect our police dogs’ vital organs, allowing them to move freely, keep cool, and stay safe on duty. The vests are fitted to each canine’s body, ensuring optimal protection as they run towards danger and save human lives.
Advanced Training
+ To maintain credentials and demonstrate a commitment to proficiency, Scholarships for the American Tactical Canine Conference were provided to K9 Trainers. Officers work with various trainers on the continued development of canine training material and scenario-based exercises.
Mobile Odor Detection Canine
+ Chief is specifically trained to sniff out the presence of a wide variety of explosives to keep San Diego safe. As the newest member of the K9 Unit’s Explosive Detection Team, Chief has a critical role at public events such as Comic-Con, Padres games, and December Nights in Balboa Park.
Home Kennels
+ Home Kennels provide safe and proper housing at a K9 Officer’s residence, enhancing the handler-canine bond with 24/7 contact. These kennels allow officers to respond more quickly to emergencies when off-duty.
3 Funded by the generosity of people like YOU.
The SafetyNet® Program
The Women in Blue Initiative
SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® is a collaboration between the San Diego Police Foundation and the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (SDICAC), designed to help children, parents and guardians, educators, and other concerned adults learn safer online practices. Studies show that once kids have the key information they need to protect themselves, they actually do. SafetyNet® empowers today’s youth to be safe and thoughtful users of technology.
The Women in Blue Initiative elevates inclusion, leadership, and the advancement and representation of women in all ranks of policing by providing funding for training, mentoring, collaboration, and networking opportunities for rising female leaders in law enforcement.
Post-lockdown, as kids continued blended learning and parents adapted to hybrid work models, the need for internet safety training remains critical. Your children have access to websites and apps that expose them to cyberbullying, sexting, hacking, and dangerous online predators. Quick Facts: • 6 out of 10 kids have been cyberbullied • 1 in 5 kids has been sexually solicited online • 24% of teens have been involved in sexting • 35% of high schoolers have met someone in person they first met on the internet Many of these activities happen at what we perceive to be the “safety” of home. Schools and guardians are having difficulty keeping up with the rapid evolution of technology and may not have the knowledge or time to instruct our youth on smart cyber choices. SafetyNet® fills this critical gap by going where the kids are.
In the 2022-2023 School Year, SafetyNet® accomplished: + 160 School Assemblies
+ 197 Total Presentations + 17,835 Total Attendees + 30% of whom are from underserved communities + 30% of presentations were delivered in Spanish
+ Scholarships for the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement (WLLE) conference were provided for SDPD female personnel, both sworn and civilian, to attend and receive training and mentoring opportunities needed to stay a step ahead. WLLE is a unique opportunity for our local female officers to create a strong peer network of contacts across the United States, acquire credentials that allow for advanced assignments, and develop professionally. + SDPD’s Quarterly Women’s Leadership Conference provides opportunities for mentorship, camaraderie, and professional growth. Each session of the quarterly conference attracts over 120 attendees, and features keynote speakers and the highest-ranking SDPD female officers in attendance. + SDPD’s Annual Women’s Hiring Expo invites prospective candidates to discuss the hiring process, the police academy demands – both academic and physical – and the various opportunities and career paths available with representatives from the K9 Unit, SWAT Unit, and Investigative Unit. Attendees can participate in a Candidate Assistance Mentoring Program (CAMP) workout and receive direction, guidance, and counseling during the hiring process. Candidates learn close-order drills and movements designed to prepare them for the physical and mental rigors of the police academy. The percentage of female recruits entering SDPD Academies from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 averaged 22%. Additionally, 73% of the recruits identified as minorities. + The Rita Olson Legacy Scholarship was awarded to a rising SDPD female leader to continue higher education and advanced training.
July 2022 - June 2023
4
25 YEARS
of purpose & partnership
IN CELEBRATION OF THE POLICE FOUNDATION’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY, LOOK BACK WITH US AT MOMENTS OF IMPACT OVER THE YEARS.
1998 FOUNDED | With every civic amenity we enjoy, there is a gap between what the City budget can provide and what is actually needed. In the case of our police, filling that gap can be lifesaving. This is why the Police Foundation was founded.
2008 SafetyNet® PROGRAM | The Police Foundation and the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (SD-ICAC) collaborated to create SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices®, designed to help children, parents, and other concerned adults learn safe online practices. This educational program has reached 284,424 participants and is now offered nationally as a subscription-based program.
2014 TRAUMA KITS | Just a week after the first trauma kits were purchased by the Police Foundation for SDPD, a SWAT officer came upon the scene of a shooting that had gravely injured two Sheriff’s Deputies. Because the SWAT officer had a trauma kit with him, he saved two lives that day. This served as a catalyst for making the trauma kits standard issue for every patrol car, and the kits are now included in the City budget.
2003 K9 PROGRAM | For 20 years, the Police Foundation has funded new dogs to follow in the paw prints of retiring K9 Crimefighters through community donations.
Did you know SDPD's K9 Unit is recognized as one of the best in the country?
Police service dogs de-escalate potentially violent situations by serving as psychological deterrents. The excellence and effectiveness of SDPD's K9 Unit is a credit to the generosity and support of the communities they serve. 5
2011 WOMEN IN BLUE INITIATIVE | Created to promote diversity and elevate inclusion by recognizing the achievements of female leaders in the public safety sector, Women in Blue celebrates women who excel in an occupation traditionally pursued by men. Since 2011, SDPD has increased the number of female sworn personnel to nearly 17%, exceeding the national average of 12%. Originating in San Diego, the model is now mirrored in police foundations nationwide.
2017
2021
2022
LifeSAVER VESTS | A five-year effort to supply SDPD with 1,141 rifle-proof vests, also known as plate carriers, began in 2017 and was fully funded by 2022. These LifeSAVER vests are worn over soft body armor, adding a layer of protection from high-caliber rounds.
HANDHELD NARCOTICS ANALYZER | With the surge of fentanyl in our communities, SDPD needed new technology to identify suspected narcotics quickly and safely in the field. The Police Foundation funded two handheld devices to test and confirm illegal drugs with speed and accuracy, which then allows the Office of the District Attorney to prosecute prolific local drug traffickers.
RESUSCITATION KITS | The Police Foundation funded 1,000 Resuscitation Kits for distribution to patrol officers who are often first on the scene in a medical emergency. This equipment protects both the rescuer and the individual in need from the health risks inherent in the exchange of breath.
Now, every patrol officer is equipped with this critical life-saving equipment when they run toward danger to keep us safe.
TODAY 2020 SAFETY FOR ALL SERIES | During this period, there could not have been a more important time for the community to understand the role of our police. In response, the Police Foundation created the Safety For All series, a virtual educational program which takes viewers “behind-the-scenes” with SDPD to see how our police are recruited and trained to perform a wide range of duties from emergency response to solving crimes.
The goal of the Police Foundation is simple yet essential: to create a safer San Diego. That means safety for all who live, work, and play in San Diego.
In 25 years of grant-making, the San Diego Police Foundation has facilitated grant awards totaling more than $10 million.
By providing programs that enhance police-community relations and supplying vital equipment needed to do their jobs safely and with excellence, the Police Foundation builds trust between peace officers and the neighborhoods they serve. Crime prevention benefits those most at risk, such as victims of domestic violence and violent crimes, children, and the elderly. Yet, the interests of everyone in San Diego are served by a region that is safe, peaceful, and secure.
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Our Mission The San Diego Police Foundation proudly supports America’s finest police department by cultivating positive community engagement and helping fund vital equipment and specialized training that ensures peace and safety for all.
What we do: • Fund critical needs for new technologies and life-preserving equipment • Cultivate programs and initiatives that address online safety, promote diversity of SDPD personnel, and deepen police-community relations • Enhance leadership, training, and officer wellness within SDPD • Advocate for better safety measures and practices in our communities • Strengthen the mutually beneficial relationship between SDPD and the public it serves sdpolicefoundation.org @sdpolicefoundation 444 West Beech St. Suite 250 San Diego , CA 92101 (619) 232-2130
• Raise awareness of the outstanding service SDPD provides to our communities With every civic amenity we enjoy, like our parks, beaches, mountain trails, or even our libraries and public schools, there is a gap between what the city budget can provide and what is actually needed. In the case of our police, filling that gap can be lifesaving. We do not fund personnel, regular police vehicles, lethal weapons, officer uniforms, or standard police equipment.