“Safety is something so basic to life that every human craves it,” Sara Napoli, President and CEO of the San Diego Police Foundation shared with GB Magazine. “Yet, our safety is something we often take for granted – until it is threatened. Safe neighborhoods are the underpinning of all that we hold dear: our families and friends, our businesses, and the way we live our lives. This is something we should all care about.”
The San Diego Police Foundation proudly supports America’s finest police department by fostering trust and community engagement, while funding vital equipment and specialized training. This past year, the Police Foundation funded several key public safety initiatives for the San Diego Police Department, including the Real-Time Operations Center, part of Chief of Police Scott Wahl’s vision to safely resolve critical incidents and solve crimes.
Through the SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® program, students of all ages learn to recognize and respond to online threats. Studies show that once children have the information they need to protect themselves, they do. Since its inception, SafetyNet has educated more than 332,000 participants, including students, parents, educators, and community leaders.
The Women in Blue Initiative continues to elevate inclusion, leadership, and the advancement of women in all ranks of policing. This year, 50 scholarships for specialized training were awarded, helping SDPD maintain its national leadership in the percentage of female officers.
For the past 22 years, every police service dog at SDPD has been purchased through community donations to the Police Foundation. This year, 10 new K9 Crimefighters joined the ranks. These specialized canines safeguard public events, find missing persons, locate evidence, de-escalate dangerous situations, prevent shootings, and preserve life.
Among the dogs is Phoebe Zorra, an electronic storage detection canine who serves on the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Her work helps officers bring child predators to justice and protect vulnerable children. Two Mobile Odor Detection canines, specially trained to detect explosives and ensure safety at large gatherings and events, also joined the team.
In addition, the Police Foundation funded essential equipment and technology – everything from new computers to tourniquets, resuscitators, and SMART Boards for tactical coordination. The Foundation also supported outreach initiatives that build community trust as well as training programs that strengthen both officer and public safety.
Public safety is, at its heart, a shared responsibility. The San Diego Police Foundation fills the gap between what city resources can provide and what is truly needed to keep our community safe. By supplying officers with the right tools, training, and technology – and by nurturing trust between law enforcement and the people they serve – the Foundation helps ensure San Diego remains a place where families thrive, businesses grow, and neighbors feel secure.
To support initiatives like these, consider giving today at www.sdpolicefoundation.org or by calling Cathy Abarca at (619) 232-2130 ext. 1010.
