Corporate giant Qualcomm donated $1 million to the San Diego Police Foundation (SDPF) to upgrade technological equipment for the city’s roughly 2,000 sworn police officers.
The donation, the largest the foundation has ever received, was presented Sept. 13 at its annual fund-raising luncheon. It will go toward purchasing hand-held, broadband capable communications devices for officers and other wireless technology to upgrade dispatch operations.
“Our police officers are extremely dedicated but they don’t have the tools,” said Kim Koro, president of Qualcomm Government Technologies. Koro said the donation will help modernize San Diego’s officers and put them on the cutting edge of technology.
Twenty-year San Diego Police Department (SDPD) veteran Lt. Debbie Farrar can testify to the importance of this.
Farrar said that the increased use of technology is the most significant change she has seen in police work over her career.
“Fifty years ago, all you needed was to be big and tough to break up bar fights,” she said. “But (today there is) technology, DNA, police radios.”
The SDPD’s aging technology is a result of tough times the department has fallen on in recent years. The city’s financial woes and a high cost of living have made it difficult to recruit and retain officers, as well as purchase needed equipment.
“We have the perfect storm coming at us in law enforcement,” said Police Chief William Lansdowne, to the roughly 500 SDPF supporters in attendance at Town and Country banquet hall for the luncheon.
Lansdowne said the increasing rate of officers retiring and potential recruits unable to pass extensive background checks, coupled with a rise in crime, is making the situation even more dire.
According to statistics provided by the foundation, San Diego has roughly 1.6 officers per thousand residents, far below the average of the 3-4 officers per thousand residents in comparably sized cities across the country.
Nearly 90 percent of SDPD’s budget goes to personnel costs, not leaving much for additional equipment above and beyond the bare essentials, such as police vehicles, uniforms and equipment for police belts.
The SDPF was founded to fill in these gaps.
“There’s a lot of ‘You’ve got to be kidding me’ situations that the budget doesn’t call for,” said Wenda Alvarez, SDPF president and CEO.
The SDPF, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, recruits corporate and private donors to award grants to purchase equipment. In 1998, then Police Chief Jerry Sanders started the foundation, and chaired it for the following three years.
“This is such a critical organization,” said Sanders, who was on hand to receive the Qualcomm donation. “Our cops are not allowed to ask you for money ” as you would hope.”
Since its inception, corporate donations have purchased several key items for the department, including new police dogs to replace K-9 unit retirees. The police dogs cost $8,500 each, and have been instrumental in successful responses to S.W.A.T. and potential suicide calls.
As well, 60 SDPD officers were trained in an intensive Spanish language course funded by a corporate grant, and are now patrolling their communities with a critical new communication skill.
The SDPF was also able to purchase recording equipment to videotape testimony on the scene of domestic violence calls. This has resulted in guilty pleas from perpetrators in 95 percent of cases in which the victim’s initial statements were recorded, according to the foundation. In domestic violence situations, victims often recant their testimony or drop charges, thus perpetuating the cycle of violence.
In addition, the foundation has helped procure a van for homeless outreach, a horse trailer and several other items.
For more information on foundation programs or to make a donation, visit www.sdpolicefoundation.org.