November 2015 | 1

TheInformant

ExecutiveProtection Detail

Unit Highlight- Page 12

The Official Publication of the San Diego Police Officers AssociationVolume XXXV, No. 11 November 2015

Detective Amalia “Katsi” SidhuMember Spotlight- Page 6

Operations SupportUnit Highlight- Page 12

SDPOA Board ElectionsPage 18

DeMaio/Reed Initiatives UpdatePresident’s Message- Page 3

2 | The Informant

Tom BostedtSecretary

Editorial and Advertising Information

Jacqueline Rainey, Editor858.573.1199

editor@sdpoa.org

Editorial PolicyThe views or opinions expressed in The Informant are not necessarily the opinions of the San Diego Police Officers Association, the San Diego Police Department or any official body or agency of the City of San Diego.

We encourage article ideas and photographs about or of interest to our members. Article abstracts, photos, story ideas, suggestions, letters to the editor, commentaries and information may be submitted in person, by mail or by e-mail to the editor.

Freedom of expression is assured within the bounds of good taste and the limits of available space.

Our target audience is law enforcement, specifically POA members of the San Diego Police Department.

Deadline

All copy and advertising must be submitted by the tenth of the month prior to the anticipated publication month; e.g. July 10 for the August issue. Content submitted after that date may be considered for a later issue.

© San Diego Police Officers Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher.

SDPOA Committees and Committee ChairsLegal ....................................................................Bostedt (Chair)

Political Action .......................................................Fender (Chair)

Retirement ..................................... Jordon (Chair), Tom Sullivan

Business & Governance ......................................Fender (Chair)

Bylaws & Policy•Administration•Parliamentarian•

Member Relations ...............................................Bostedt (Chair)

Member Communication•Member Relations•

Public Relations .................................Paxton/LaValle(Co-Chairs)

Informant•Website•Charity •

Special Events/Scholarship .................................Bostedt (Chair)

Budget & Finance .............................................. Hoskins (Chair)

Labor Management ...........................................Schaeffer(Chair)

SDPOA Charity Fund Committees and Committee Chairs

Charity Fundraising ............................................. LaValle (Chair)

Memorial...............................................................Pidgeon (Chair)

Budget & Finance .............................................. Hoskins (Chair)

San Diego Police Officers Association8388 Vickers StreetSan Diego, CA 92111

858.573.1199 (Office)858.573.1574 (Fax)

www.sdpoa.org

Brian R. MarvelPresident

Jeff JordonVice President

Terry HoskinsTreasurer

Mike FenderDirector

Jack SchaefferDirector

Mike PidgeonDirector

Paul PaxtonDirector

Ed LaValleDirector

Est. 1912

November 2015 | 3

I would like to thank the members who took time to participate in the assessment vote last month. The “Yes” votes carried the day, though results were still low with just 306 members voting. This was an extremely important vote as the initiatives proposed by Carl DeMaio and Chuck Reed will prove to be some of the biggest challenges this organization will face. I recognize that $5.00 per pay period is difficult during this time, but if we are successful, the pay and benefits that will be preserved over a lifetime will more than make up for the $130.00 contribution over the next year.

As I write this, DeMaio and Reed have decided to drop their first initiative and instead have hedged their bet by submitting two measures that mimic the first. Although these new measures more specifically attack new hires, the reality is that it still starves and jeopardizes current pension systems. If you have been monitoring the bankruptcy proceedings in Detroit, the active and retirees took a hit to their retirement benefits. I recognize young newly hired officers may be more concerned about making arrests and getting bad people off the street than their retirement benefits; however, these initiatives dramatically affect everyone’s pay and retirement. I hope the entire membership will get behind making sure these initiatives get defeated either at the signature gathering stage or at the ballot box. We cannot do this alone.

Only six people put their name in for the three director positions, including Mike Fender and myself running for reelection. I hope everyone takes time to participate in the vote. It is important for our members to be involved in the direction of the association. Elections begin November 2nd and end November 6th and will be held electronically through the IQue portal. Be sure to read the candidate statements on the forum before casting your vote.

Finally, I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. We look forward to seeing the on-duty officers and their immediate families at our traditional Thanksgiving meal at the SDPOA Hall of Valor. This is a great time to reflect and spend quality time with friends and loved ones.

All the best,

Brian R. Marvel

In This Issue

Chaplain’s Corner .............................................. 5

Officer Amalia “Katsi” Sidhu ............................... 6

A Note from Ryan Kaszycki................................8

Crime Files ......................................................... 9

SANDAG: Mid-Year Crime Stats........................10

Unit Highlight: Operations Support ...................12

Police Officer Bill of Rights Article .................... 14

Imperial Beach Youth Athletics Pt. II ................ 15

SDPOA Discount Tickets ................................. 16

SDPOA Store ................................................... 17

SDPOA Store Sale Raffle Winners/ Election Info ....18

UC-7: Chaba Thai ........................................... 19

Manager’s Report ............................................ 21

SDPOA Committee Spotlight ........................... 23

In Remembrance.............................................. 25

On the Road ..................................................... 27

Classifieds ........................................................ 29

Board Minutes .................................................. 30

President’s Message

Follow the SDPOA on:

4 | The Informant

YOUR FORCELEADMASTER’S IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP – ONLINE

*Law enforcement and public safety association/union members, military personnel, veterans, and military spouses receive reduced tuition.

Gain the leadership and management skills you need to command your unit and advance your career with immediately applicable skills.

Take Charge! Speak to an Advisor Today

» (877) 896-3820 | CriminalJustice.SanDiego.eduEnroll by June 30 &

Receive an iPad mini!†

“Police officers today need skills in leadership, management, and communication for advancement. The University of San Diego collaborated with the San Diego Police Officers Association on the creation of the Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership, and the degree focuses on these skills.”

Officer Brian R. Marvel, President San Diego Police Officers Association

100% ONLINE TOP 100 UNIVERSITY

SAVE OVER $2,400 I N T U I T I O N*

November 2015 | 5

“The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and those who trust in You shall bless You.” (Ps. 145:8-10)

This November is the month when we give thanks to the God of all grace for His abundance in the provision, protection and peace that He affords us. There is indeed much that God gives to us in common ways, be it health, a job, good friends and family joys. But there is even more that He gives us in uncommon, extraordinary ways. These are the hidden and severe mercies He shows us, which at first can seem more curse than blessing, but as they play out and root themselves into our heart and are extended into our life, prove in us a character building perseverance that, though pummeling our spirit in the process, generate in their course a deep-seated hope that establishes our soul. Suffering loss is, ironically, one of the things which opens up our understanding to an awareness of things we never fully realize we have that are of even greater value, and that can never be taken away.

Two days ago I, along with my wife and four children, buried our dog, a precious and beloved member of our family. If you have never experienced losing a companion such as this, it might be hard to relate to. But if so, you know the heartache. It’s not akin to losing a child, but the pain goes very, very deep. It is a wound of bitter tears and a desperate sense of helplessness. Dakota was our dear black lab. He was actually the son of our yellow lab Zella, and was sold as a puppy, but after four years found his way back to us, and we were so glad to receive him. So full of life and simple joy, vibrant eyes and so loved to play, we assumed we’d have the blessing of his loyal companionship for at least eight years. In our short four, he wound himself around our hearts so tight that he beat in rhythm with us. His greatest joy was just to be with us, touching next to us, gazing at our approval, pleasing us however he could. Whenever outside and ready to come in, if the door was closed, he would simply sit in front of it like a sphinx, patiently waiting until we would see him and bring him in. He would play with us until we ran out of time or tired, and then would just sit next to us. He never wandered off so having him leashed was unnecessary, as his own space always had to have us in it. He came when we called, always, and never presumed to do anything until he saw us give him permission. He contented himself with what we gave him, and felt so bad about any accident. We always knew it was, and never scolded him.

‘Kota, as we called him, was a creature of sheer beauty. Created by God, he was a masterpiece both inside and out.

His face and eyes melted your heart. His jet black coat was sleek and smooth. He was active and looked fit and trim. There was no imperfection. Inside, his heart matched his appearance. He could honestly do nothing wrong. He followed our younger puggle, Kaylee, a dear dog as well, but though five times smaller, “told” him where to go and what to do, and whether it was chasing a squirrel or digging a hole, they were 1st responders together. Kaylee would body block him just to play, and he would roll onto his back or side and just let her act as though she was mauling him (gumming him) and they would entertain with their mock battles. My son Nathan would run with him and take him to the creek by our place, and many blissful times of true companionship were nurtured between them. He was the first to greet my wife Debbie in the morning, and they would sit together before sunrise as she read and prayed. He was a reflection of God’s beauty.

On Sunday he was not at our door to greet my wife. As she went downstairs and looked for him, she couldn’t find him. She called to him and he dutifully came from some hidden corner, hobbling as he did so, and then collapsed and became incontinent. He was clearly in great pain and yet still seemed ashamed about losing control. We could only comfort him, and then arranged to take him to the pet emergency hospital. I had a speaking engagement that morning so could not accompany them, but afterward received the awful news that he had a tumor on his spleen that ruptured, was bleeding internally, and cancer was probably the cause. It was a grave prognosis for us as well as for him. We called our two children who were away at APU and they immediately started home. Debbie and I and our other two waited for them to arrive, and had our family meeting. I recounted the day’s events, all the horrible choices we had before us, and through bitter tears amidst our declarations of love for him, prayed for the grace and strength we needed to be there for Dakota as he had so wonderfully always been there for us.

We all climbed into our van and drove ever so slowly to see him at the hospital. They brought him into our room, still hobbling, straining to see us, and content to be with us altogether again. The hospital left us alone with him, and we soaked his fur with our tears, our kisses, and fused his precious head to our own, grasping his neck, sobbing with hearts that were broken in two. The doctor came in to confirm our decision, let the suffering stop.

I wanted to save Dakota. He trusted us to take care of him, and he didn’t understand what was happening, other than that he could trust that with us there, he would be alright. I wanted to bring him home and nurse him, will him, pray him back to health, only to know that keeping him alive for my own selfish desire to have him so was not taking care of him. I could not save him, no matter how much I loved him. This was our good-bye.

The doctor returned, and with each injection his cherished life ebbed away, peacefully, painlessly, and ripping away parts of our hearts with him as he left us and our world. We placed him into our van and drove, with quiet tears, slowly home. At the top of our hill we all labored together for hours

By Herb Smith, San Diego Police Department Chaplain

Chaplain’s ORNER

6 | The Informant

satisfaction in knowing that her team’s work helps improve the quality of life for the good people in the neighborhoods that they serve. Additionally, she likes that her work has come full circle and that she once again gets to contribute to mitigating the gang problem in the city, first as an officer and now as a detective.

As one could imagine given her many assignments, Katsi has had many memorable calls and cases. One of the most impacting cases she has worked was her first case in homicide. The case involved the death of an San Diego State University student who was jumped by visitors from Sacramento. It was a challenge, but with the help of key

By Jacqueline Rainey, Editor

Amalia “Katsi” Sidhu is a true detective, not just in the breadth of her

experience, but in her passion and dedication to her profession.

Katsi joined the San Diego Police Department in 1998. She was starting to consider her career after her time in the military, and her friend, Sergeant Andy Rios, recommended she look into the San Diego Police Department. It was clearly a good recommendation as she has excelled in a 17-year career and is still going strong.

Throughout her time on the department, Katsi has had numerous rewarding assignments. After the academy, she was assigned to patrol at Southern. While at Southern, she also spent time on the Border Crime Suppression Team (BCST). A few years later she was transferred to Mid-City Patrol. It was here that she made her foray into working with gangs and was later picked up as a member of the Gang Suppression Team (GST). She was later promoted to the rank of Detective and has been assigned to several teams, including Vice, Homicide, and Robbery. She has enjoyed and embraced the experience at each assignment, but she has found her true calling at her current assignment as a detective for Gangs.

“Gangs is my home,” said Katsi. Ever since she joined the department, she has aspired to be a Gangs detective. She enjoys the challenge of the investigations. “It is rewarding to get these truly bad people off the street.” She also finds

Member SpotlightAmalia “Katsi”

Sidhu

November 2015 | 7

witnesses and the incredible effort the team dedicated to solving the case, they were able to bring about a resolution. Katsi still keeps in contact with the family of the victim and considers them to be an important part of her life. It is clear that she is genuinely invested in the work that she does.

EVERGREEN TREE SPECIALIST

Certified Arborist #WE-3509-A

Complete Tree ServiceLacing Stump Grinding

Pruning Complete RemovalEdward Gross - Owner

619-850-9583 Cell619-255-3719 Fax

Fully Licensed & Insured

Tree Care and

Removal

Affordable Rates

Expert Witness Contractor’s Lic #731377

5575 LAKE PARK WAY STE 100 LA MESA, CA 91942-1669knielsen@farmersagent.com

KATHY NIELSENYour Local Agent | License #0641500

619-698-8003

You never stop working for us. We will never stop working to save you money. Call today for

personal attention and great rates!

Although many would shy away from the inherent challenges of her chosen profession, Katsi is no stranger to difficult work. Katsi grew up in El Centro, where at the time it was little more than a small stop along Interstate 8. She recalls from a young age helping her family’s ranch, which included bailing hay at early hours. After graduating high school, Katsi joined the military. She served as an Air Force Medic stationed in Austin, Texas. Her four years stationed there made her very fond of Austin. She and her husband, retired SDPD canine officer Dave Beathard actually have a condo on Lake Travis and visit as often as possible.

Given her background and history of assignments, one might imagine her to have an adrenaline-pumping hobby or side work. It might come as a surprise then that Katsi enjoys spending her down time doing crafts, embroidery, and cross-stitching. These were all self-taught skills that she has developed over time. She also spends her free time on fitness and exercise. She even participated in the Baker to Vegas relay Women’s team for ten years. Beyond running and crafting, Katsi enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and their three dogs.

Katsi Sidhu is truly passionate about her work. She has had a long rewarding career filled with many memories. The part that she appreciates the most is the sense of camaraderie and the teams she had the honor of being a part of. “I work with really good detectives and officers. I have also had the privilege of learning from experienced detectives, such as Tim Faubel, Sandi Oplinger, Nestor Hernandez, Steve Riddle, Jana Beard, Art Lovio, and Rudy Castro to

name a few,” said Katsi. Despite her impressive career, she is not in this job for glory or recognition. What she craves most is the team environment she gets to be a part of as a detective in Gangs.

A quote that Katsi strives to embody in her work comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” It is safe to say that she has achieved that and more as she has enriched the lives of so many in the department and the community.

8 | The Informant

This year Officer Kaszycki’s wife, Julie, will run/walk the 13.1-mile race at the Las Vegas Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon on November 15, 2015 to raise funds and awareness for research leading t o improved treatment options and a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This will be the 5th year someone in their family has done this. They do this because their son, Ryan, has Crohn’s Disease.

A Note From RyanI was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease 8 years ago when I was only 9 years old and it has been the biggest struggle of my life. Since then, I have been more specifically diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. My health has been up and down over the years and has involved several hospitalizations. I have lots of doctors appointments and tests that I need throughout the year. I also have to get an injection once a week and take lots of medicine. We are hoping they will find a cure soon! In the meantime we are doing all that we can to help raise funds for research.

We are asking you to help by supporting our fundraising efforts with a donation. Your tax-deductible gift will make a difference in the lives of the 1.6 million patients suffering with digestive disease! Donations of all amounts are valuable.

Please donate today. go to: http://online.ccfa.org/goto/julies

or if you prefer to, mail to:

10820 Hillcreek RoadSantee, CA 92071checks made out to CCFA

Thank you!Ryan & The Kaszycki Family

Help Officer Kaszycki and His Son, Ryan, Fight Crohn’s Disease!

November 2015 | 9

By Steve Willard

Carlsbad, California. With his loving family at his side, including Judy his wife of 59 years, one of the most influential members of American law enforcement died peacefully at the age of 84 on Sunday, September 6, 2015.

There will probably never be an accurate number of just how many men and women pursued careers in law enforcement because of him; it could be tens of thousands. Even Chief Charlie Beck admitted this man was one of the reasons he joined the LAPD in 1977.

Ironically, despite being perhaps one of the greatest police recruiter’s ever, LAPD Officer III+I Peter J. Malloy, serial number 10743, badge 744, never really existed except on TV. That role was portrayed by veteran Hollywood actor Martin Milner.

I knew Martin Milner. Marty was a friend of mine. There will never be another like him.

Like many of my generation, I grew up watching reruns of Adam-12. Like many of my generation, its influence played a part when I decided to pursue law enforcement as a career more than 30 years ago.

Conceived by Dragnet producer Jack Webb, the pilot for this gritty drama centering on the professional lives of Officer’s Malloy and Reed, was shot in 1967. The show was ultimately purchased by NBC where it ran from September 21, 1968 until May 20, 1975.

Like Dragnet, each Adam-12 episode was based on actual cases with names changed to protect the innocent and covered a variety of incidents the officers encountered during a shift, from the tragic to the trivial. Their set was not a squad room or office; the officers watched the changes in American culture through the windshield of their squad car.

The show was bold for several reasons. When it was conceptualized, anti-police fervor was at an all-time high. Absent sitcoms like “Car-54 where are you” or Andy Griffith,

there had never really been a show centered on uniformed cops. To introduce a show like Adam-12- where clean cut but fallible patrol policemen enforced the sometimes not so-popular-rules of the establishment and delivered a moral lesson- was radical to say the least.

In a move a major network would never consider today, NBC chose to run the series for one year as a public service even if it wasn’t supported by the ratings.

In the series’ first episode, directed by Jack Webb, Kent McCord’s character Officer Jim Reed is less than a week out of the academy and eager to begin his career. On his first night Malloy is assigned the young, raw, rookie. Little does Reed know Malloy had - just three weeks earlier - lost his partner arresting a robber. Malloy is so deeply distraught he planned to quit the LAPD.

The plot turned when Reed showed tremendous potential. Realizing his new partner still had a lot to learn, Malloy decided to stay and guide him during his nine-month probation. The show ended with Malloy saying, “I couldn’t turn you loose on the citizens of LA, not without a leash.”

The public service gamble paid off beyond anyone’s wildest dreams and the show became a runaway hit.

Ever the fanatic for authenticity, Jack Webb had the sets designed as exact replicas of real LAPD stations. The uniforms, equipment and cars were as exact as the badges. As the LAPD to this day maintains one of the strictest inventories of any police agency, they loaned out real badges for the filming; however, they also assigned an officer to the set to collect them at the end of each shoot.

Continued on Page 20...

The Loss of a Legend

FilesCrime

10 | The Informant

Mid-Year Crime Statistics 2015Are We Up or Down?

By Cynthia Burke, PhDSANDAG

For over 35 years, SANDAG’s Criminal Justice Research Division has compiled and analyzed Part I Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) statistics on a bi-

annual basis from the region’s eleven local law enforcement agencies. With numerous changes at the State level, from Public Safety Realignment (AB 109) to Proposition 47, along with other issues faced by law enforcement across the country, there has been the perception that crime couldn’t go any lower and may start to increase. With mid-year (January to June 2015) crime statistics now available for the San Diego region, what are we seeing reported to local law enforcement, and how does this compare to six of the seven other largest cities in the U.S., based on current population?

Homicides: There were 43 homicides reported in the San Diego region in 2015, up from 39 at mid-year 2014. In 2015, more homicide motives were identified as being tied to domestic violence and fewer to gang violence. As shown in the set of figures that follows, among the comparison jurisdictions, one experienced a decrease, two experienced no change, and four experienced increases, with the largest mid-year changes seen in Chicago and San Antonio.

Robbery: The number of robberies reported in the San Diego region increased slightly (1%) at mid-year 2015 to 1,338, from 1,331 in 2014. Across the seven comparison jurisdictions, two jurisdictions had mid-year decreases, while the other five, including Los Angeles, saw increases.

Burglary: The drop in reported burglaries at mid-year 2015 in the San Diego region was the largest among the crime categories – down 13% from mid-year 2014, with decreases in both the residential (-11%) and non-residential (-15%) categories. Each of the seven jurisdictions, with the exception of Los Angeles, reported mid-year decreases in this crime category.

Larceny: Larceny was the one property crime to increase from mid-year 2014 to 2015 in the San Diego region – by 4%, with 20,651 reported by local law enforcement – an average of 113 per day. Four of the other jurisdictions had mid-year decreases in their larceny numbers, while Houston and Los Angeles also had increases.

Motor Vehicle Theft: With 4,777 motor vehicle thefts reported in the first half of 2015, this crime category was also down in the San Diego region at

mid-year 2015 – by 5%. The San Diego region was one of the four jurisdictions that reported decreases, while Chicago and Los Angeles had increases. The number of motor vehicle thefts was not available for New York.

When interpreting these statistics, it is worth noting that according to the most recent national crime victimization surveys, 83% of motor vehicle thefts, 61% of robberies, 60% of burglaries, and 29% of thefts were reported to law enforcement in 2014. If you are interested in more statistics from the Mid-Year Crime Bulletin, please visit: www.sandag.org/cj.

Are You Confused About DROP Options? If so, let the professionals at the Syrios Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors help you understand all of your retirement options before you make what could be the most important financial decision of your life. We offer all active and retired members of the San Diego Police Officers Association:

Complimentary, no obligation, Financial Analysis Review of your Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) Choices Review of your IRA, 401K & 457 (Deferred Comp) Plans College Saving Plan Options Access to Lending Services through Wells Fargo Affiliates Immediate & Deferred Annuity Options

If you would like to have a better understanding of your financial future, feel free to contact the Syrios Wealth Management Group at 858-456-5460 to schedule an appointment. To learn more about our services, visit our website at www.syrioswmg.com

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Gregory Syrios, CFP®, CIMA®

Mark Sullivan, MBA

November 2015 | 11November 2015 | 11

1 Because changes to the definition of rape were implemented in California in 2015 resulting in some Part II crimes and some aggravated assaults now being coded as rapes, comparisons for rape and aggravated assault across jurisdictions and time are not being made.2 Crime statistics through June 30, 2015 were compared for San Diego County, San Antonio, TX, and Los Angeles, CA; July 31, 2015 for Houston, TX; August 16, 2015 for Philadelphia, PA; and August 30, 2015 for New York, NY and Chicago, IL. Because of variation across jurisdictions, the focus on the comparison is on how mid-year crime numbers varied from 2014 to 2015, rather than the actual number of crimes reported.

Mid-Year 2014 - 2015 Changes Violent Crimes Mid-Year 2014 - 2015 Changes Property Crimes

12 | The Informant

by Jacqueline Rainey, Editor

When most people imagine police work, they imagine car chases, drug busts, shrewd detectives or shootouts. Others might conjure up

an image of an officer on patrol protecting the streets. These are all essential and exciting parts of law enforcement, but there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work at play that most people are unaware of. It is probably not too often that the average person considers what it takes to make all these moving pieces work together to make a highly efficient and functional police department run smoothly. However, for the men and women of the Operational Support Unit of the San Diego Police Department, this is exactly what they do day in and day out.

Operations Support is made up of seven officers: Captain Jerry Hara, Lieutenant Rich Freedman, Sergeant Kurt Grube, and Officers Ed LaValle, Warren Lovell, Josh Odom, and Mike Pridemore. The unit also includes Associate Management Analyst Martha Carranza, Word Processing Operator Teresa McKenzie, and VIP/RSVP Officers John Marshall and Ed Kitrosser. Although this is a relatively small unit, they are responsible for a wide variety of important issues.

Generally, the Operational Support Administration Unit assists area commands and other units within the police department in accomplishing their mission by providing the necessary operational resources. This is accomplished by staying up to date on current and future technologies and resources which can be used to aide in efficiency, problem solving and the provision of police services. As funds

of the

Unit Highlight

MonthOperations Support

become available, either through the city’s General Fund or other sources (Safe Board Funding, the San Diego Police Foundation), it is the responsibility of Operational Support to develop lists of needed items, explain what needs the items will satisfy, and calculate expenses related to the items (maintenance, technology, etc). Day to day, the unit handles equipment issue, repair, return, and, maintenance. This includes ordering, receipt, inventory and distribution of department safety equipment, including body worn cameras, ballistic body armor, weapons, chemical agents, and the outfitting of new academy recruits. Operational Support also manages over 700 department cell phone lines and related equipment.

Perhaps the most demanding project the Ops Support unit has taken on has been implementing body-worn cameras (BWCs) throughout the department. “I know of no other Ops Support project… with the scope of the BWC project,” said Sergeant Grube, who has been in Ops Support for over four years. “The testing, information gathering, contract negotiation, infrastructure expansion, training, and equipment issuing has made the BWC project an example of the vital role of Ops Support and how well the Ops team performs. Ops Support began exploring this technology back in 2007, and with technology advances as well as affordability, SDPD began a full deployment strategy in 2014.”

Left to Right: Officer Warren Lovell, Associate Management Analyst Martha Carranza, Officer Josh Odom, Word Processing Operator Teresa McKenzie, Officer Mike Pridemore, Captain Jerry Hara, Officer Ed LaValle, Lieutenant Rich Freedman, VIP/RSVP John Marshall, Sergeant Kurt Grube.

November 2015 | 13

As one of the first and largest city police departments to institute mandatory body-worn cameras, Ops Support has had an incredible amount of attention, both from the media as well as other departments. This project has been years in the making and will continue to be monitored by the unit to ensure the equipment and policies are the best they can be.

Another major responsibility entrusted to Ops Support is monitoring staffing levels and recommending personnel distribution. As most are aware, solving the staffing crisis facing the San Diego Police Department is a top priority for the command staff, so their work in this matter is of utmost importance. Their input has been instrumental in identifying where resources are most needed and providing insight for the contract negotiations. They will also assist in monitoring the efficacy of the new contract in terms of recruiting and retention rates.

In addition to equipment and staffing, the Ops support also provides input to outside entities on behalf of the department. For example, they provide the department’s perspective and recommendations on environmental impact studies when a new development is proposed in regards to the staffing needs it would require. They also act as liaisons to vendors, hospitals, jails, mental health services, and other departments.

Co-Owner John Almond and his family

Co-Owner and former USMC OfficerKelly Shawhan and his family Locally and veteran owned

Call for an appointment.619-715-4054

SemperSolaris.com

$500off**Police Officer Discount

**One per household. Minimum of an 8 panel system. Coupon mustbe presented at time of appointment. Not valid with any other offers.

Coupon ExpiresOctober 31, 2016

**uuuunnnnnnntttttttt

mumumumustststr or offeffeffeffers.rs.rs.rs.rs.

License #978152

How much will you save?In most cases you will save money right away and will continue to save moneyfor many years to come. Frankly, you will save thousands. Generally, Solar is a

mathematical “no-brainer.”

Call for a FREEenergy analysis today!

619-715-4054Sempersolaris.com

GoSolarAmericanStyle LocallyandVeteranOwned

WhyChooseSemperSolaris?

ACT NOWAND MAKE

NO PAYMENTSUNTIL 2017!*

“Semper Solaris installed American panels cheaperthan the other guys cost to use foreign panels.”

OAC. Some restrictions and site conditions apply.

ALL-AMERICAN PRODUCTS • ALL-AMERICAN COMPANY • ALL-AMERICAN LEADERSHIP • ALL-AMERICAN INSTALLERS

“Semthan

Over26Years

Experience in

RooftopSolar cheaper

Askushow toputSolar on yourPropertyTaxesnow!**

Ops support is a very unique environment. The wide range of responsibilities means that no two projects are alike. Some of the biggest challenges the unit faces are the large ongoing projects as well as the testing, purchasing and issuing of equipment. However, it is the unity of the Ops Support Team that makes it all worthwhile. The unit’s motto, “We’ll Make it Happen” truly encompasses the team’s dedication to finding solutions and making them available to their fellow officers.

“If anyone is interested in being assigned to this unit, they will need to be prepared to learn, work, and be part of a great team,” said Grube. “The success of Operational Support is due to the people that make up the unit. From the command staff through the rest of the unit, [there is] a sincere camaraderie and willingness to work together to achieve the necessary goals. The motto ‘We’ll Make it Happen’ hangs on our wall. Ops Support takes great pride in providing members of the department with the tools and technology they need to perform and be safe.”

The Operations Unit is an essential part of law enforcement as we know it. These dedicated officers ensure the San Diego Police Department remains a well-running machine equipped with the best resources possible to keep our city safe.

14 | The Informant

There are literally thousands of reasons why the Police Officer Bill of Rights is an important law. Cops do hard jobs. And by the very nature of those jobs their

daily work life is filled with unpredictability.

Law enforcement has an obligation to safeguard the due process rights of anyone accused of a crime. Those due process rights carry through an arrest, investigation, trial and throughout incarceration.

The Police Officers’ Bill of Rights gives frontline cops their own set of due process rights to protect them from false accusations made by criminals or zealots who hate cops.

What if I told you that police officers have no due process rights when they get injured during a struggle with a criminal while on the job?

This is a true story… A Gulf War veteran becomes a police officer in his California hometown. He hurts his neck and shoulder taking down a criminal.

His workers’ compensation doctor prescribes physical therapy, but it makes his pain worse so he has to stop it. After the doctor ordered surgery, the insurance bureaucrats denied it because the police officer didn’t finish physical therapy.

To get back to the job he loves, he went to the VA and got his operation done.

California’s bureaucrats have designed a system where a doctor that is selected by your employer to examine

you after an injury can have his diagnosis and prescribed treatment overturned… by a doctor working under a state contract who never examines the injured officer.

It gets worse… you have no right to appeal.

For years, the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association has been working to get this issue in front of the Supreme Court. We expect a decision in the next several months.

California’s no-appeal, no-due process system must be changed. Together we can demand that the legislature correct what the bureaucrats have put in place.

If you know of any officer who has been denied their due process rights in Workers’ Compensation, please forward their story to Diane Worley, Policy Director, California Applicants Attorneys Association (diane@caaa.org). We want to make sure that every officer’s story is shared with the Legislature.

What the Police Officers Bill of Rights Doesn’t Do

Public Safety Committee, California Applicants’ Attorneys Association

Rates as low as APR*

• Loan Amounts up to $25,000• Flexible Terms

5.99%

*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. METRO membership, including a one-time membership fee, is required. Federally Insured by NCUA.

619.297.4835 | www.sdmcu.orgApply online today!

November 2015 | 15

by Ruben Gutierrez Sergeant, Traffic, San Diego Police Department

Why did start this program?I decided to create this program while working in Central Division. Too often I would come across youth through various encounters where they were either victims or suspects of crimes or violence. In speaking with them I would come to learn that many had no positive influences in their lives. Some were from single-parent homes, or forced to live with unattending relatives. Many times the youngest of children were left to fend for themselves or act as the parental figure to their younger siblings.

To make matters worse, the perception had by our youth about law enforcement, particularly in the most underserved communities, was no better off. With the negative portrayal of officers in the media, not to mention their real life encounters, it is no wonder why many times officers are met with resistance, contempt, and many times violence. I want to show the youth in our communities that the San Diego Police Department and officers are here for them and that they can count on us.

Undoubtedly, I recognized the need for something positive and productive that would not only be accessible to the youth, but would also provide them with a fighting chance for future success beyond any boundaries or obstacles they would have to face in life. In a grassroots effort to provide the necessary mentoring and guidance I created the “Mentor America Project” and through it the “Imperial Boxing Youth Athletics.”

Why Boxing?My mother was the hardest working person I know, even to this day. She often worked two to three jobs at any one time just to provide for my siblings and me. That left very little time and money to place us into any sporting activity that would require significant driving or more importantly, money. When I was in Junior High, I met an officer who spent a lot of his own time mentoring the youth. He introduced me to the sport of boxing through a small program he ran in a neighboring city. With permission from my mother and a commitment from me to do well in school, I was allowed to join the program and become part of a team sport that would help teach me important life lessons of teamwork, commitment, and education, but best of all, it was free! I did not know the impact it would have on my life and that this same experience would set me on a journey to pay it forward so many years down the road and in such a familiar way.

I continued with the sport for many years, until later becoming involved in martial arts with my children. I

never expected to partake in the sport again, but in 2011 I was presented with an amazing opportunity to lace up the old gloves and get back into the ring for a great cause, the annual Battle Of The Badges youth charity event. My hope was to provide some great entertainment to spectators, but more importantly to raise the money needed to keep a local youth center open another year. I was inspired by the work the center was doing and the lives that were being changed. Soon I found myself with a burning desire to do the same for our youth here in San Diego, and boxing was the obvious choice.

What did it take to start the program?After lots of planning, overtime, and sacrifice, I decided it was time to begin the efforts. My first step was to find a location. I did not have the money to rent a building, and with a family to support, I had to be creative and think out of the box. I met the program director of the Memorial Recreation Center and shared with him my vision. After hearing about the program and its goals, he insisted there was no better place with greater need. The Memorial Recreation center, located at 2902 Marcy Avenue, could not offer any financial support, but if I was willing to make use of a spare room, they would allow me to host the program there. A major overhaul of the room began by taking out stored items, trash, broken and outdated electronics. We

Continued on Page 26...

Imperial Beach Youth Athletics

16 | The Informant

The POA Store

Open:Monday- Friday

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.8388 Vickers Street

San Diego, CA858-573-1199

Or visit sdpoa.org

and click on the POA Store link.

Visit the POA Store for your San Diego

Police goods & gifts!

Scan with your smartphone to shop online at our store

web site!

sdpoastore.com

Check out “POA Store” on Facebook to know

our featured items each week or give us your

review on Yelp.

ATTRACTION Age Member Regular Expires Limits *CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE

-OR- DISNEYLAND 1 DAY

Electronic, Credit Card Purchases Only

ADULT (10+) CHILD (3-9)

$95.04 $89.28

$99.00 $93.00

12/31/15

8/Member per month

*CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE & DISNEYLAND 1 DAY

HOPPER Electronic, Credit Card Purchases Only

ADULT (10+) CHILD (3-9)

$142.60 $137.08

$155.00 $149.00

12/31/15 8/Member per month

*CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE AND DISNEYLAND 2 DAY

HOPPER Electronic, Credit Card Purchases Only

ADULT (10+) CHILD (3-9)

$204.75 $192.92

$225.00 $212.00

12/31/15 8/Member per month

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE & DISNEYLAND ANNUAL PASSES - Please visit Disneyland.com to determine which annual pass best fits your needs. Credit Cards ONLY!

KNOTT'S BERRY FARM REG. (12+) JR (3-11)

$38.00 $31.00

$65.00 $35.00

12/31/15 8/Member per month

LEGOLAND-GET A SECOND DAY FREE

Electronic, Credit Card Purchases Only *Need first and last name of

each person*

REG. (13+) JR (3-12)

$71.00 $66.00

$85.00 $79.00

12/31/15 8/Member per month

2 DAY LEGOLAND RESORT HOPPER– LEGOLAND, SEALIFE

AQUARIUM Electronic, Credit Card Purchases Only *Need first and last name of

each person*

REG. (13+) JR (3-12)

$76.00 $71.00

$109.00 $103.00

12/31/15 8/Member per month

BIG BEAR/SNOW SUMMIT ADULT - - Closed 8/Member JR (13-21) - - Per month

*MAGIC MOUNTAIN Electronic, Credit Card Purchases Only *Need first and last name of

each person* A $8.99 Processing fee applies

GENERAL $44.99 $69.99 12/31/15 8/Member per month

SAN DIEGO ZOO/

SAFARI PARK ADULT (12+) CHILD (3-11)

$42.00 $32.25

$48.00 $38.00

04/24/15 04/24/15

8/Member per month

SEA WORLD - 1 DAY ADULT (10+) CHILD (3-9)

$69.00 $69.00

$84.00 $78.00

12/10/15 12/10/15

8/Member per month

SEA WORLD – FUN PASS *Blackout Dates Apply*

ADULT (10+) CHILD (3-9)

$75.00 $75.00

$84.00 $78.00

12/31/15 8/Member per month

* UNIVERSAL STUDIOS – 3DAY

Electronic, Credit Card Purchases Only *Need first and last name of

each person*

ALL AGES $84.00 $95.00 03/16/16 8/Member per month

* UNIVERSAL STUDIOS – BUY ONE DAY GET A YEAR Electronic, Credit Card Purchases Only

ALL AGES $95.00 $95.00 12/31/15 8/Member per month

These tickets must be purchased electronically (at the POA store) using a credit or debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo.

You must show POA membership card to purchase member tickets - NO EXCEPTIONS! Please call the POA store to verify ticket availability.

All prices are subject to change without notice.

MOVIE THEATERS MEMBER REGULAR EXPIRES Limits AMC GOLD - Unrestricted $8.50 $12.50 No expiration

10/Member per month

REGAL / EDWARDS / UNITED

ARTIST – Unrestricted $9.00 $13.00 No expiration

November 2015 | 17

S-XL $16.00 XXL $18.00

SDPOA Pilsner$6.75

*All items are subject to sales tax.

Baton $89.50SideBreak Scabbard $32.40

SDPD Polo ShirtS- XL: $30.00XXL: $32.00

SDPD ShirtS- XL: $16.00XXL: $18.00

SDPD Retractable Badge Clip $3.00

Dress Side-Open Badge Wallet $13.00

Hidden Badge Wallet$21.98

SDPD Hats$14.00

Pepper Spray in Pink or Black$10.00

SDPD Double Badge Pin $35.27

18 | The Informant

Attention POA Members:

Voting for the SDPOA Board of Directors Election is Coming Soon!

There are three seats up for election this year. Please take time to review the candidate statements on the SDPOA Forum. The members being considered for the position are:

Matt AlvernazMike FenderJim Mackay

Brian MarvelHomayoun Nabizadeh

Mark Roode

Voting will be conducted electronically through your IQue Portal starting

0000hrs on Monday, November 2nd

through

1700hrs on Friday, November 6th

Please contact the POA office with any questions.

SDPOAUniform Sale

Raffle Winners

Congratulations!

Uniform WinnersPrizes from Vendors

Polo Shirt Winners

Alfredo NafarrereJose Rodriguez

Tracey WilliamJason Tsui

Ryan ShultzTu Nguyen

Cara BismarkDavid FelkinsJoel Hoolihan

Tony NaputiBob ClarkMo Parga

Max VerduzcoMark RoodeChris CurranJames Teer

Melanie BognudaKevin Andreen

November 2015 | 19

UC-7: An Anonymous Eater

I have a love-hate relationship with spicy food. On one hand, those divine, satiny red and green peppers are so gooood. They envelope otherwise polite foods and

make them sing through flavor doors one would not expect. On the other hand, a burned palate is incredibly annoying. If you decide to bark up that tree in a restaurant, in particular a Thai or Vietnamese restaurant, proceed with caution. I learned my lesson years ago when I confidently told the owner of the now defunct Dao Son restaurant, “I love spicy food! Make it a 10!” He must have been laughing in the kitchen. My lunch was a 10 indeed. I could hardly eat it! It was delicious but my palate was slayed for at least one week.

Chaba Thai is located at 8010 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, (858) 503-7777, (in the same mall as The Dumpling Hut, from a couple months ago). They are open Monday through Saturday 11-9, and they take credit cards. There is a small parking lot attached to the mall. Jacob D and I had lunch at Chaba Thai on one occasion. The dining room is fairly small, so ordering food to-go is a good option.

I went straight for a classic, the Pad Thai with chicken ($6.95, on the lunch special). A pedestrian choice, but it’s a dish I cannot pass up. Chaba’s Pad Thai was made with rice noodles, their own homemade chili sauce, green onion, bean sprouts, lime, and crushed peanuts. I asked for a spice level of 4, not wanting to tempt the fates, and 4 was the perfect choice. The sauce dangled ever so carefully on the edge between delicious and frightening. I cannot fathom the shear searing of the mouth that would have happened if I carelessly said, “Make it a 10!” The green onion and bean sprouts added the perfect cool, refreshing thread in the dish.

The portion was hearty and for the price, an excellent value.

Jacob D chose another Thai classic, the Red curry with chicken, also at a spice level of 4, ($6.95, on the lunch special). Thai Red curry is made from red chili paste, and Chaba added a healthy dose of Bamboo shoots, basil leaves, and bell pepper. Fans of Sriracha sauce will love this dish. Chaba’s Red curry sauce was not a watery mess, but instead a rich swirl of wonderful chili pizazz embellished by the crisp vegetables. Once again, be forewarned, the spice level was right at the top of Jacob’s limit. So, if you are a brave soul, Chaba Thai might be the place to display your spice prowess, as they are not coy with the peppers.

Chaba Thai is a great choice for cops who love spicy food, and are willing to be a little adventurous with their food choices. The prices and portions for their lunch specials are extremely budget friendly. I am giving Chaba Thai 3.75 badges.

Highlighting cop-friendly eateries in the City of San Diego that provide a full meal for under or around $8.00 using a strict 5 badge rating system.

Chaba Thai8010 Clairemont Mesa Blvd

(858)503-7777

Your Business Here

Leading TrendsSocial Media

Awesome ServiceManual

www.streeterprinting.com

• Brochures

• Direct Mail

• Office Forms

• Newsletters

• Invitations

• Booklets

• Folders

• Stationery

• Flyers

• Manuals

858.566.0866

20 | The Informant

Crime Files...Continued from Page 9

Marty once told me while the show received tons of compliments it was also not without critics. One of the most common gripes was, “you guys never do paper.” In response, the producers shot an episode where that was all the cops did. It only aired once.

Complaints were also filed with the LAPD. Kent McCord recalled several times they were sitting in the patrol car, away from the camera, waiting for the cue to roll in when a citizen would approach for a report to be taken. The response was always the same: “sorry, we aren’t really the police.” The complaint phoned into the LAPD was often the same as well, “two of your officers are trying to get out of doing their jobs.”

I first met Marty in 1997 at a badge show the police museum was sponsoring. It was like meeting an old friend. Despite having been a star since the 1940’s, and even filming the Sands of Iwo Jima with screen legend John Wayne, Marty was one of the kindest, most sincere people I’d ever met. He even gave me his home number and said, “Call anytime.”

Over the years I crossed paths with Marty on a number of occasions. Each time it was always the same - he was warm, genuine and someone you were just happy to know.

Marty was also a genuine animal lover. Despite being a major star, he wasn’t too proud to donate his time to animal shelters by sitting in North County Malls to help pets get adopted.

Marty even took the time to drive downtown to address the San Diego City Council in support of the police museum trying to save the Old Police Headquarters. He also lent his name and prestige as a member of our board of Commissioners.

At his September 12th memorial service I sat in the pews next to dozens of uniformed police officers – mostly LAPD. They said they joined because of Marty and they wanted to pay their final respects. The highest ranking member of the LAPD was Deputy Chief Michael Downing. His father, LAPD Deputy Chief Steven Downing, was once a technical advisor to Adam-12. The torch had been passed even if 1 Adam-12 is now 10-42.

RIP Martin Sam Milner. 12/28/1931 – 09/06/2015.

In memory of Patrolman Carl W. Davis. 09/29/1896 – 07/20/1934 (SDPD 08/27/1929 – 07/20/1934)

READY TO RETIRE?Whether you plan to play golf, travel the world, or spend more time with your family, determining your retirement needs is the first step in defining how the assets you’ve worked hard to build, keep working for you.Planning for your retirement can be a daunting task. If you’re nearing retirement, we can work with you to evaluate your needs and develop a sound strategy that seeks to achieve your goals and provide confidence.Contact our office today for more information or to schedule a consultation. Experienced with direct rollover options for DROP and 401k plans.

Christine L. DellacatoBranch Manager8356 Allison Avenue, Suite C, La Mesa, CA 91942619.697.8792 cdellacato@summitbrokerage.com

Member FINRA/SIPC

CODE-3 Industries, Inc. Serving You Since 1976

Emergency Equipment Engineering 4304 Twain Avenue

San Diego, CA 92120 (619) 280-4300 (800) 854-2183

www.code3-eee.com

The one-stop cop shop for all your equipment and uniform needs.

Nights are getting longer...

Bring your Streamlight in NOW for a tune-up! Don't be caught in the

dark! EEE is a Streamlight Authorized Service Center

November 2015 | 21

SDPOA Manager’s ReportThe POA staff and I wish to express our sincerest sympathies in the loss of former SDPD Chief and San Diego Sheriff Bill Kolender. The SDPOA is thinking of the Kolender Family during this difficult time. Kolender will be greatly missed.The Annual SDPOA Charity Christmas Party is right around the corner! Invitations were mailed out last month and ticket sales opened October 26th. All ticket sales will close on November 10th- No exceptions. Please remember to bring the guest list found on the back of your invitation completely filled out with all names, ID numbers, and the full payment. Without any of these, we cannot process your seating request. It is shaping up to be a great party so don’t wait to reserve your seat!I would like to say congratulations once again to the Officer of the Shift recipients who received their awards last month. It is our honor to recognize the exceptional professionalism of our members. These awards are the least we can do to express our gratitude for your hard work and dedication to the department, our association, and our community.The SDPOA recently had the opportunity to meet the recruits from the 105th and 106th academies. We are happy to welcome them to the POA and we hope to see you and your families at the upcoming holiday events.As a reminder, the SDPOA Thanksgiving Meal will be held at the POA Hall of Valor. All on-duty officers and their immediate families are welcome to attend at the discretion of their command. I would like to say thank you once again to PanPac for their generous donation of a full roasted pig to add to the celebration.The SDPOA staff and I would like to wish you and your families a safe, warm, and happy Thanksgiving. We hope you enjoy quality time with friends and family.

Be safe,

Khristina L. Smith

Annual POA Thanksgiving MealSave the Date!

Once again the POA will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal for on duty POA

members and their immediate family. (Attendance would be at the discretion of your command.)

22 | The Informant

STAR/PAL brings youth & law enforcement together today...to build safer communities tomorrow. 619-531-2559 | www.starpal.org

STAR/PAL needs volunteers to assist with the Jr. Chargers Training Camps!

Weekdays – September through December The 2015 San Diego Chargers football season is now upon us! We are looking for enthusiastic law enforcement officers, firefighters, and civilian volunteers who are willing to assist STAR/PAL with running the youth football camps during the fall and winter months. Camp Details:

Camps will consist of five basic football drill stations, with each station designed to teach youth the fundamentals of football, goal setting and better fitness practices.

A few Chargers players are expected to attend each camp and interact with the youth. Volunteers are asked to please arrive 30 minutes prior to camp start time to assist with

camp set-up.

Volunteers are needed for the following remaining camp dates: o Thursday, October 1st (11:00am- 2:00pm) at Logan K8 School o Thursday, October 15th (10:00am- 12:30pm) at Alcott Elementary o Friday, October 16th (9:00am- 2:00pm) at Sessions Elementary o Tuesday, October 20th (9:00am- 1:30pm) at Tierra Del Sol Elementary o Thursday, October 22nd (1:00pm- 3:30pm) at Hidden Valley Middle School o Friday, October 23rd (9:30am- 2:30pm) at Emerson Bandini Elementary o Tuesday, November 3rd (4:00pm- 6:30pm) at MCRD o Thursday, November 5th (9:30am- 2:30pm) at Valencia Park Elementary o Thursday, November 12th (9:00am- 1:30pm) at Porter Elementary o Monday, November 16th (9:00am- 11:30am) at Lemon Grove Middle School o Tuesday, December 1st (9:00am- 2:00pm) at Hardy Elementary

To sign up, please contact STAR/PAL Officer Edwin Garrette at

(619) 531-2668 or egarrette@pd.sandiego.gov

*Volunteering meets educational incentive guidelines for most law enforcement agencies.*

November 2015 | 23

Specializing in:DiamondsGemstonesManufacturingCustom DesignGold & PlatinumAppraisals by GIA graduates

619-698-3583 www.diamondsltd.com2812 Fletcher Parkway El Cajon, CA 92020

In the Vons shopping center at Navajo and Fletcher Parkway

Diamonds Ltd.FINE JEWELERS…a name you can trust

The Zwibel family has provided over 30 years of exceptional

service in San DiegoWith three generations in both Jewelry and Law Enforcement

Diamonds Ltd.

Gold, Jewelry, & Estate BuyersCash paid on the spot!

Any quantity, any condition, in strict confidence(Bonus paid for larger diamonds)

Work done on premises!Repairs

RedesignRestoration

Stone SettingLaser Repair/Weld

Inside Ring Engraving

(Not pictured: Ed Zwibel SDPD #5475 - Eastern Division)

Don’t forget to ask for your POA discount!(Not pictured: Sergeant Ed Zwibel

SDPD #5475)

POA Committee Spotlight: Charity Fundraising

by Jacqueline Rainey, Editor

The Charity Fundraising Committee is the most recently created committee and was formed in early 2015 as a means of bolstering the SDPOA Widows and Orphans Fund. The committee has been tasked with raising over $1,000,000.00 for the Widows and Orphans Fund. The members of this

committee are entrusted with continuing our traditional means of fundraising as well as finding new ways of raising money for the association’s charity branch.

Some of the main responsibilities of the committee

are events such as the Annual Charity Golf Tournament and managing donation request campaigns such as the member charity drive. The Charity Fundraising Committee also works directly with our outside consultants and the SDPOA Advisory Board. The members of the Advisory Board are esteemed members of the community who have graciously offered their assistance in the form of donations and business expertise to help the Widows and Orphans Fund prosper.

The Committee is comprised of four members. The Chair is Ed LaValle and the co-Chairs are Jack Schaeffer, Mike Fender and Terry Hoskins. If members have a question relating to this committee, please email Ed LaValle at elavalle@sdpoa.org.

Ed LaValleCommittee Chair

24 | The Informant

November 2015 | 25

RemembranceIn

Archie C. BuggsMichael J. BushmanThomas A. Keays

End of Watch: 4 November 1978 Officer Buggs was shot and killed

during a traffic stop of two suspects under the influence of PCP.

End of Watch: 25 November 1963Officer Bushman died after his car left the road in a single-vehicle accident.

End of Watch: 20 November 1937 Fifteen minutes after pulling a body from

beneath a streetcar, Sergeant Keays died of a heart attack.

26 | The Informant

painted the dingy walls, stripped the floors to a nice gloss, and prepared the room for a life changing endeavor.

Once the room was ready, I began purchasing whatever equipment I could afford. I found deals on craigslist, used many coupons, and learned quickly how to repair used equipment. There has been incredible support from many individuals such as Chief Terrance McManus of the San Diego Police Department, community leaders like Council Member David Alvarez’s office and many others. There has also been great support from the Metro chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association, St. Anne Catholic Church of San Diego, and the Scottish Rite who have all expressed their support for the program.

How can youth become involved in the program?My goal was to provide a youth sporting program free of charge. Many sporting activities can cost a pretty penny and I did not want to burden any families who were not in a position to pay. For this reason, we do not charge, we don’t make any profit, and most of the expenses are borne out of pocket. Although there is no monetary fee to be in the program, there are some very important requirements and expectations for our participants.

The most important things are that students are doing well in school, making good decisions in life, and they learn to work with law enforcement in a positive way. No ifs, ands, or buts about it! The sport of boxing is just the hook to get them into the door. Students do learn to how box, but they are also taught that if they are not focused on their education and learning to make those right decisions, they cannot better themselves or others.

Students are also required to provide report cards and periodic notes from their teachers ensuring they are doing well and not misbehaving. There is tutoring and homework assistance provided at the center if needed to achieve educational success. Students are also introduced to positive mentors and role models such as officers, professional athletes, and military who are committed to helping our students. Currently, we have over 29 students registered and each have demonstrated their desire to excel in life. We are very proud of them. We publicly recognize their accomplishments whenever warranted and every month we present the IBYA Leadership Award to a student who has demonstrated behaviors above and beyond the expectations. Our students are learning to throw out the junk food and develop healthier eating habits. Recently one of our students reached a milestone when he recorded a loss of over 30 pounds in the last four months. An accomplishment such as

this can only be achieved through hard work, dedication, and a “Can do” attitude, which all of our students are taught.

What is the Mission for the program?The hope is that we can bridge the gap in the community between inner-city youth and law enforcement professionals, to break the barriers through education, mentoring, fitness, and health. We also want to provide options where there are none, the right tools for success, and a fighting chance to achieve ongoing personal development. Through this program we will instill the “5 Core Concepts of Success”: Leadership, Teamwork, Responsibility, Dedication, and discipline.

What are the program hours?The program runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. We hope to extend our hours to four days a week, but because we are reliant on volunteers it is difficult secure the full time commitments.

How can people get involved and help?We welcome anyone who would like to contribute to building stronger relationship in the community by volunteering a couple of hours a week and acting as role models and motivators. Formal boxing experience is not necessary because our program includes many other forms of training and condition. The program has been approved by our Department’s In-Service training as a Community Action Program, which can assist officers looking to earn volunteer hours to use towards their POST incentives. Any non-sworn personnel wishing to volunteer must undergo and pass a fingerprint screening conducted free of charge by The City of San Diego. I am grateful to have been so blessed and the truth is that I could not have done this and so much more without the love, care, and support from my family. As we all know, there is no “I” in team and there is so much owed to so many people who have shared the same vision for the future of our youth. I sincerely wish to thank all of the supporters and encourage everyone to keep up the good fight and support your local youth because they are our future for tomorrow!

IBYA...Continued from Page 15

Above: The atheletes at IBYA were invited to watch a Padres game from an box suite. This was the first live MLB game experience for many of the children. Right: Det. Mario Perez and Sgt. Gutierrez present an award to one of their athletes.

November 2015 | 27

Detective Sergeant Dan Albright and his son, Officer David Albright at Quincy Market

in Boston MA with a Boston PD Officer.

If you have recently taken your copy of The Informant on the road with you, please share your pictures! If your picture is featured, the member who sends in the photo will receive a pair of movie tickets and our appreciation!

Active and retired SDPOA members should send submissions to Jacqueline at editor@sdpoa.org.

Retired POII Lance Dormann and Retired Detective Norma Dormannat Corcovado, the statue of Jesus “Christ the Redeemer” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Detective Erich Bennettrecently went on a vacation to Salt Lake City, Utah. He is shown here standing in

front of the Mormon Temple.

RoadOn the

28 | The Informant

Save the Date

Grand HyattDecember 12th, 2015

35th Annual Charity Christmas Partyat the

on

Join us for a night of food, drink, dancing and more!Ticket sales end November 10th!

The San Diego Police Historical Association proudly presents the

A.D. Brown Christmas LuncheonA Tradition Since 1974

Thursday, December 3, 2015 9AM – 2PM

Holy Trinity Church located at Ballard and Redwood in the City of El Cajon.Open to all active duty, retired and the few friends in between who once served

but left us early. Come by and enjoy old friends and fresh food.

To reserve your seat simply fill out the information below and mail it to:San Diego Police Historical Assoc.

1401 Broadway MS 734 San Diego, CA 92101

Call 619-726-6151 with any questions

NAME:_______________________________________________________ PHONE:________________________

Number of seats @ $20 each: ___ Total:___________________

November 2015 | 29

Classified Ads and Vacation Rentals Family of late Hugh B. French of SDPD has plot for sale at El Camino Memorial Park’s Firefighters and Police Officers Memorial Lawn. This plot is part of the parcel of the 46 founding families located right at the Plaza. Plot #: 253F. Asking price: $3950. For further information please contact Carol French 615-245-8791 or email cif@cox.net.Big Bear Lake Vacation Home - A modern 3-bedroom, 2-bath home furnished with rustic/mountain decor. Amenities include WiFi, fireplace, 4 cable TVs/ DVD players and a full kitchen. The cabin has a hot tub and BBQ on the deck. It is next door to Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain and a short walk to the lake, Village, shops and restaurants. Call Teresa at (619) 249-9284 for booking at discounted rates of: $175 - $250 a night, depending on requested dates. Or you can visit WWW.BIGBEARCOOLCABINS.COM “TC’S CABIN” for photos and approximate availability.Rosarito Beach, Mexico – just steps from the beach, beautiful ocean view with spectacular sunsets. Gate guarded, located at K38, a world-renowned surfing spot and only 20 miles from the border. Outside firepit and sundeck, living room, family room both with fireplaces. Two bedrooms, sleeps eight, two bathrooms. Enjoy the clean skies and stars at night, smell the ocean air and listen to the waves. Reasonable rates, come relax and enjoy! Call Sandy Redding at 619-444-9174.Coconut Coast in Kapaa, Kauai – One bedroom condo with full kitchen in the Planation Hale, a 160-unit, 9-acre complex run week-to-week vacation rentals (www.plantation.hale.com). Special law enforcement rate (active and retired police, firefighters and friends in San Diego County). To book, call Sue and use “code law,” at 1-800-775-4253. Sleeps 4 adults and 2 children, with daily maid service.Lake Havasu City, Arizona – New vacation home in the heart of Lake Havasu City. The home has three bedrooms and two baths with an additional detached guesthouse furnished as a second master suite, making it perfect for two couples plus kids/guests. Amenities include full granite kitchen, in-ground pool and Jacuzzi, fireplace, 50” TV & entertainment center, BBQ, and lots of off-street parking. The home is 5 minutes from all attractions including London Bridge and the lake, golf, desert sports, and shopping! Available by the day or get the week discount. Great law enforcement rates. Call J.K. Hudgins, CIU 619-247-6978, or Chuck Arnold, ICAC 619-890-8527.K-38 Baja Mexico - One bedroom ground level condo located at the popular K-38 surf location (1 hour from San Diego, 10 min south of Rosarito). Sit on the deck and watch the surf, surfers, and sunsets. Secure, gate guarded complex. Sleeps 4, California King bed in master and a queen murphey bed in living area. Fully equipped kitchen, BBQ, fireplace, outside patio table, and large sun deck. Perfect for a romantic weekend get-away or a week of surfing. Call Eric Johnson 619-651-7600, SDPD retired. Silver City, New Mexico- 4 br, 2 bath Modular Ranchette on 5 acres. Located 1.5 miles south of town. Master bedroom has a large walk-in closet and access to a private covered patio. The master bathroom has a garden tub, his and hers sinks and a separate shower.The kitchen has an island, a Jenn-Air stove and abundant cabinets. The property includes two work shops. One is 16x24 two stories, insulated and air conditioned (100 amp service). The second,10x14 single story, insulated with electricity. Abundant wildlife including deer, javelina, quail, dove, coyote, bobcat and fox. Elk are located north of town. Asking price $ 229,000. Contact Phillip and Faith Calloway at home (575) 534-3911, cell (575) 313-5858 or email campocats@msn.com Submitted by Jene Calloway 3034. Retired Dec.2011.Lake Havasu Rental- This is a clean and comfortable, fully equipped , 3 bedroom, 2 Bath, home 1300 Sq.Ft. (1) king in master bedroom, 2 Queens in the other 2 bedrooms. Granite countertops. Location 2291 Sahara Dr. off Havasuppi. Only $75.00 per night with a $75.00 cleaning deposit. Close to downtown and on the north end of the city. About 1 mile straight down the street to the launch ramp. Access to a 45 ft. pool across the street. Plenty of parking . For photos and further info contact Kay Caddy 928 208 2483 or E mail kaycaddy@hotmail.com.Rooms for Rent- Two rooms for rent in Sorrento Valley; roommate is LEO; $600/mo/room, shared utilities. Contact: bconrad2000@gmail.com.

creating a revered place for his beloved body. Wrapped in his favorite blanket, resting on his deflated basketball (his favored fetching toy) with his Frisbees all on top, we buried him as deep in the ground as he was in our hearts. At sunset we prayed over his place, grateful for his life.

Dakota was a creation of God’s beauty. The traits that characterized him were mannerisms that truly emulate the fruits of God’s Spirit. All of the beautiful things God creates are a respite and a reminder that His Light pierced through the dark and formless void of this fallen world to infuse it with His life and love, and continues to do so amidst all of its desperate evil. There is by His grace and love the indicators that His Spirit is with us, in the beautiful people, creatures and things He places in our lives that touch our soul, refresh our spirit and reassure us that His hope and love will never leave us, that the beauty which draws us to Him and imparts its joy is what enables us to go forward in spite of suffering and loss, knowing it implants eternity in our hearts.

God’s created order is ongoing, and the truth and beauty that

is Him in this world was created for a forever declaration of his endless faithfulness and love. What is of His Spirit will never die, and though subjected to the futility of this world’s fallenness, it is in hope “that the creation itself will also be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom.8:21). Death cannot erase the beauty of God’s distinction, and even the extraordinary pain of suffering and loss infuses into us a hope that does not disappoint, because of the love of God poured out within our hearts through His Spirit that gives us life.

I give thanks for Dakota’s life, but even more so for the Spirit that animated him and touched each of us with the unblemished beauty of God’s deep, imperishable, unwavering and always there for us, love. Oh Dakota, our hearts are with you forever. Wherever we shall be, for now and evermore, may you be also, with the beauty of God’s Heart that you carried and gifted to us forever.

“The Lord sustains all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to Thee, and Thou dost give them their food in due time. Thou dost open Thy hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Vv.14-16)

Chaplain’s Corner...Continued from Page 5

30 | The Informant

SDPOA Board Minutes

Board of Directors MeetingSeptember 10, 2015

0830 hours

Directors present: Marvel, Jordon, Hoskins, Pidgeon, LaValle, Fender, Schaeffer (arrived 0850)

Directors excused: Paxton, Bostedt

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:S. Creighton, E. Kaszycki

OTHERS PRESENT: M. Schneider, M. Thiemann, K. McMillan, L. Moratto, J. Kaszycki, B, Fields, R. Pinckard, K. Smith (recorder)

OPENING OBSERVANCESPresident Marvel called the meeting to order at 0830 hours and led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance. There was a moment of silence for the Officers killed in the line of duty in the past. There were 10 officers killed in the line of duty Nationwide since the August board meeting. There were 5 San Diego Police officers killed in the month of September. Henry Goodrich (9/7/1940), Kimberly Tonahill (9/14/1984), Timothy Ruopp (9/16/1984) Ronald Davis (9/17/1991) and Robert Mcpherson 9/30/1929).

NON-AGENDA MEMBER COMMENTS:None.•

1. MEMBER PRESENTATIONS:Ed Kaszycki and his wife, •

Julie, requested the POA make a donation to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation. Request for $500. Moved to charity.

PRESENTATIONS:

Marc Schneider and Kyle • McMillan gave an overview of a member benefit they would like to offer the members. This offer is an online marketplace. Discussion occurred.

2. PACFender updated regarding San •

Jose’s police department moving forward with litigation against their City. At the final hour, this was resolved in court between the parties.

Fender gave an overview of the • last Big 11 meeting.

Fender gave an overview of last • night’s PORAC chapter meeting

3. PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE

a. Informant: The member spotlight for •

November will be Imalia Sidhu and Operational Support will be the Unit Spotlight for November.

b. Website: Hoskins gave an overview of •

what is currently going on with the new website. Hoskins suggested moving away from the current website company and move forward in a new direction to get this resolved. Pidgeon briefed the board with information on how things have been moving. Discussion occurred.

M/S Hoskins/Jordon to end • the POA’s relationship with Saint Somewhere Marketing and present a new proposal by the next meeting. Unanimous. Paxton/Bostedt absent. 7-0-2.

Adjourned general board meeting,

opened in Charity session at 1000 hours. Re-Adjourned at 1038 hours to general meeting.

4. RETIREMENTJordon reported there are •

currently 5 pension tiers for POA members. It is getting difficult answering questions due to all of the changes happening over the last 5 years. The POA directors are receiving calls asking the board to assist them in understanding what they are entitled to and have responded by having meetings with City officials to give active and retired members more benefits training.

5. MEMBER RELATIONSNo report.•

6. LABOR/MANAGEMENT COMMITTEEChief Creighton noted the •

promotional reading list is ready to go out.

Chief discussed the use of force • policy

7. LEGALNo report.•

8. SPECIAL EVENTS/SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

Smith reported regarding the • upcoming Officer of the Shift breakfast.

Smith reported on this year’s • Christmas Party.

9. BUDGET-FINANCEa.Status report

Hoskins and Riccio reported on • the monthly financial status of the POA accounts.

November 2015 | 31

REMINDER: The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 12th, 2015 at 8:30 am in the POA Board Room.

If you have a specific topic you would like to address with the board, please email Khristina at ksmith@sdpoa.org by Thursday, November 5th to be added to the agenda. If you’d like to sit in

and listen to the discussion, but do not have a specific topic, please feel free to drop in.

Khristina SmithManager

Executive Assistant

San Diego Police Officers Association Staff

Jacqueline RaineyCommunications Coordinator

Editor, The Informant

Stephanie FisherReceptionist

Administrative Assistant

Michelle KleinStore Clerk

M/S Pidgeon/LaValle to approve • the treasurer’s report for this month. Unanimous. Bostedt/Paxton absent. 7-0-2.

10. BUSINESS & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEEa. Administrative:

Update on the Building Upkeep • Tracker.

b. By-Laws/ Policy:No report.•

c. Minutes:M/S Hoskins/Jordon to accept the •

S 2015 Board Meeting Minutes with 3 corrections. Unanimous. Bostedt/Paxton absent. 7-0-2.

11. MILESTONE REPORTNone•

Adjourned general board meeting, opened in Charity session at 1337 hours. Re-Adjourned at 1350 hours to general meeting.

13. OLD BUSINESSNone•

14. NEW BUSINESS None •

Meeting adjourned at 1219 hours.

32 | The Informant

The InformantSan Diego Police Officers Association8388 Vickers StreetSan Diego, CA 92111-2109

Change Service Requested

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSan Diego, CA

PERMIT No. 2325

The San Diego Police Officers Association is looking for Corporate Sponsors for The Informant. Corporate sponsors will have their logo featured on the back cover of The Informant as a part of the sponsorship

package.

Interested parties should contact Jacqueline Rainey: 858-573-1199 | editor@sdpoa.org

The Informant is a proud recipient of the APEX Award for Publication Excellence

ARE YOU MOVING?? Please be sure to let the POA Office know. The Department does not inform the POA of any change of address.

Happy Thanksgiving from the SDPOA