Thank You!
Chief of Police William Lansdowne and Mayor Jerry Sanders join SDPF Board of Directors and staff in gratitude for your support.
"We’ve seen huge cutbacks in social services . . . for the homeless, abused children and seniors. It’s the police department—the officer on the street—being called to address the problems."
-Chief of Police William Lansdowne Whether enforcing traffic laws or responding to violent crimes, police take the oath to "protect and serve" to heart. Your support says you care about their commitment. To the men and women who wear a bulletproof vest and badge to work, that means a lot. To the hundreds of thousands who benefit, it means even more.
With your support, the San Diego Police Foundation is helping cover the backs of "America’s Finest." Many items you and I might consider "standard equipment" or "necessary technology upgrades" are not included in the San Diego Police Department’s city–funded budget.
In 2010, as the San Diego Police Department faces its lowest staffing in decades, you can help us capitalize on equipment infrastructure opportunities. For example, detectives say it is often evidence from a minor crime that provides the key to a major one and good cameras in the hands of hundreds more police officers will greatly expand evidence–gathering capacity.
Investigative efficiencies will be increased through a $500,000 initiative. With community member gifts at any level, we will:
- Equip and/or upgrade interview rooms to digitally record the detailed statements of victims and criminal suspects.
- Expand and improve evidence collection by providing digital cameras and training to 500 more officers.
- Increase investigative efficiency by replacing manual chain-of-custody evidence tracking with an electronic system.
Who benefits? We all do. And people we know and love who are most vulnerable.
20% of San Diego seniors will fall victim to elder abuse.
80% will not report the crimes.
In their cyber worlds, our children are facing increasing risks. But they’re not telling adults.
Only 20% of middle school children surveyed would tell their parent if something online made them uncomfortable.
Our SafetyNet public education program, in partnership with the regional San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, is a wake-up call for parents and youth.
In collaboration with schools, employers, youth organizations and faith communities, the program helps parents (and educators) untangle the web of confusion they often feel about kids’ cyber activities.
And in middle school classrooms, SafetyNet activities are increasing risk awareness and, most importantly, the likelihood that youth will tell an adult if something’s wrong.
"I am convinced that the SafetyNet program is absolutely NECESSARY! We begin implementing today, so that our students will be prepared with strategies over the winter break that might save a life."
-Middle School Science Teacher
- We’re responding to parents and educators with plans to expand school participation and initiate a media campaign.
"We’re the ones in the limelight. We’re the ones solving the crimes. . . . But it’s the people behind us—our support structure—that makes us succeed."
-SDPD Det. Farrell Layton Tens of thousands benefit from aid provided professionally and compassionately by men and women who proudly wear an SDPD badge. Make the difference in the efficiency of police officers who will respond when you call. Donate online today.
ACHIEVEMENTS
SDPF grants benefit crime lab,
canine, covert operations and more
With broad community support, SDPF grants accomplished the following.
- DVD recorder and duplicator streamline the recording process for child abuse victim and suspect interviews.
- SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices™, our regional public education program in partnership with the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, provides a wake-up call for parents and youth about the exponential increase in cyber risks. The program has been expanded through generous contributions from the Tayebi Family and the AT&T Foundation.
- A stereomicroscope and speck finder camera system (facilitates high resolution photography of microscopic evidence) improve SDPD Crime Lab investigation efficiency.
- We’re providing a critical bridge – a night off the streets -- that ends the cycle of arrest, jail and back to the streets for San Diego’s homeless who are ready to start down the path of recovery.
- The Foundation provides police dogs that save officer and civilian lives.
- Leadership opportunities are an important part of the School Safety Patrol program where thousands of elementary students guide their peers and parents across busy intersections every school day.
- With help from the Gaslamp Quarter Association we’re providing bike and equipment replacement/upgrades ensuring the cost-effective and day and night patrol of downtown streets by police officers on bikes.
- Members of the SDPD SWAT team joined U.S. Navy and police divers in a 4-day training that advanced the goal of aligning tactics and procedures for missions involving San Diego’s many waterways.
- Cameras provided by SDPF allowed SDPD to increase its number of specially trained officers who will collect evidence from burglary and robbery incidents.
- Qualcomm donated $208,500 to the San Diego Police Foundation to encourage the development or expansion of programs that aid first responders by increasing citizen education and preparedness. Nine San Diego county agencies are increasing their outreach education efforts.
- At the firing range where training is ongoing, an SDPF donor helped us provide new armorer tools.
- We do a little, but not enough, to help recognize and thank hundreds of San Diegans who volunteer more than $3 million of services annually as Retired Senior Volunteers, Volunteers in Policing, Reserve Police Officers and Crisis Interventionists.
|
