‘Inside SDPD’ event offers public behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a cop

Inside SDPD attendees run through a automobile stop scenario Photo by Gabrielle Wallace Times of San Diego The San Diego Police Foundation Saturday hosted an Inside SDPD behind-the-scenes event to promote trust in the department through training and understanding of what it means to be a police officer Attendees moved through various scenarios such as carriage stops and a how-to taser station at Police Plaza in Kearny Mesa I think this opens up a great avenue for people to understand what it is that officers do This gives an open look at the training and the ins and outs of how the department functions and how police officers make the decisions that they do commented Officer Joshua Hodge now a training coordinator for the department At each station police officers explained the scenario and equipment used Attendees were then able to walk through the situation as a police officer would even getting to fire taser blanks at targets and call in the K unit Officers opened the floor to questions at each station allowing guests to learn more about the inner workings of policing The event lasted just over three hours beginning with a use-of-force presentation from Sergeant Mike Rhoten Rhoten used audience helpers to demonstrate how fast resistance levels can change and how fast police officers have to respond to new factors We are not superhuman We cannot just have a crystal ball read the tea leaves and be able to understand what is about to happen We can t Rhoten noted during the presentation Shane Luther from Spring Valley was one of the audience helpers during Rhoten s presentation Luther is looking to become a cop himself partially inspired by his brother who is a police officer in Montana I think the fact that the San Diego Police Department is willing to put on an event just shows that they re trying to be transparent with the population They re not perfect but the fact that they are trying shows Luther stated The ticketed event encouraged donations to the San Diego Police Foundation which helps fund new equipment and supports all K- units within the department Inside SDPD is not the only effort of its kind The department has worked with citizen advisory boards and the Commission on Police Practices According to Hodge the department has also collaborated with locality groups putting on the same presentation at several recreation centers I think it s great that we have people who are eager who want to learn about law enforcement in general Hodge mentioned It also opens up the avenues for communication If they don t have an understanding this allows them to ask questions and present us with a way to explain how and when we do things