[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 25 (Thursday, February 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E214-E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           A TRIBUTE TO SAN DIEGO POLICE CHIEF JERRY SANDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 11, 1999

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
career and record of one of San Diego's finest citizens and my friend, 
Police Chief Jerry Sanders. On April 15, Chief Sanders will leave the 
San Diego Police Department to become President and CEO of the United 
Way of San Diego County.
  During his tenure, crime rates in San Diego have fallen to 25 year 
lows. This tremendous achievement has been made possible only through 
the hard work, dedication to duty and personal sacrifice of the entire 
San Diego Police Department.
  His community policing program is recognized as a model for American 
police forces, and for safer communities around the world. He will take 
with him a remarkable ability to integrate local community volunteers 
into the police force structure to help combat crime. And it is this 
trait which will ensure his success in his new role at the United Way.
  I submit for the record an article from the January 13, 1999, San 
Diego Union Tribune which further describes Chief Sanders' outstanding 
achievements.
  While Chief Sanders will be sorely missed at our Police Department, 
all citizens of San Diego should take comfort that he will continue to 
use his remarkable talents to better our community.
  I want to thank Chief Sanders for his service to our fine city, and 
wish the best of success in meeting his new opportunity to continue 
serving our community through the United Way.

           [From the San Diego Union Tribune, Jan. 13, 1999]

              San Diego Police Chief Will Be Stepping Down


                 He'll become leader of United Way here

                          (By Kelly Thornton)

       It was a nagging voice inside Jerry Sanders, telling him he 
     had lost too much time with his young daughters to 75-hour 
     work weeks and phone calls in the middle of the night.
       Sanders, San Diego's beloved and nationally renowned police 
     chief for almost six years, announced his retirement 
     yesterday to stunned colleagues during an emotional meeting 
     at police headquarters.
       The 48-year-old chief, who joined the department 26 years 
     ago and at 42 became the department's youngest top cop, said 
     he will step down April 15 to become president and chief 
     executive officer of United Way of San Diego County.
       ``It was by far the most difficult decision of my life, bar 
     none,'' said a teary-eyed Sanders at a news conference at 
     United Way headquarters. The ever-affable chief, not usually 
     one for formality, prepared remarks and distributed a 
     videotaped message to his troops to avoid an emotional 
     outburst.
       ``I got a little choked up and it was hard to read,'' 
     Sanders said. ``I think a lot of people are in shock. There 
     was a stunned silence after I told them.''
       Sanders said his decision was not related to health 
     problems, although he has struggled with digestive ailments 
     and gout.
       ``I look forward to spending time with my wife and 
     daughters,'' Sanders said, looking at photos of Jamie, 12, 
     and Lisa, 15, when they were young. ``I haven't seen a lot in 
     between.''
       Sanders' decision was a well-kept secret. He called mayor 
     Susan Golding, City Manager Michael Uberuaga and District 
     Attorney Paul Pfingst early yesterday to inform them. He 
     confided only in his wife and four friends.
       Everybody else was in the dark.
       Capt. Adolfo Gonzales, who attended Sanders' morning 
     meeting, said it took a moment for the words to sink in. ``I 
     was stunned. When he asked if there were any questions, you 
     could hear a pin drop in the room. . . . We as captains 
     didn't have a clue.''
       Mayor Golding praised Sanders for bringing the community 
     and police officers closer together. ``He's done an 
     unqualifiedly superb job as police chief and I will miss him 
     . . . He is genuinely loved within the community and by 
     members of the police force, and that's rare 
     accomplishment,'' Golding said.
       Sanders will not be able to collect retirement until he 
     turns 50 on July 14, 2000. At that time, he will be eligible 
     to receive 65 percent of his annual $128,004 salary--less 
     than if he had remained with the department until age 50, 
     said Lawrence Griffom, city retirement director.
       As head of the United Way, Sanders will receive $165,000 a 
     year.
       Sanders was recruited by other police departments before he 
     was approached by Untied Way in October. He interviewed for 
     the job in December and was officially offered the position 
     yesterday. The chance to continue working with the community 
     outside of law enforcement was ``an opportunity I couldn't 
     pass up,'' he said.
       City Manager Uberuaga was already preparing yesterday to 
     select a recruiting firm to conduct a national search for 
     Sanders' replacement, though he and Golding said members of 
     the department are encouraged to apply. The city manager will 
     make a recommendation to the City Council, which must confirm 
     the selection.
       Among the most likely contenders for the job of overseeing 
     2,058 sworn officers and more than 1,000 civilians and 
     reserve officers are assistant chiefs George Saldamando and 
     Rulette Armstead, who competed with Sanders for the post in 
     1993, and David Bejarano, considered by many in the 
     department to be a front-runner.
       Bejarano coordinated security for the 1996 Republican 
     National Convention, the 1998 Super Bowl and the recent World 
     Series.
       Whoever is chosen will have big shoes to fill.
       Under Sanders' tenure, crime rates fell to their lowest 
     levels in 25 years, mirroring a nationwide trend. The ranks 
     of volunteers swelled to unprecedented levels. The entire 
     beat system was restructured so that areas are patrolled as 
     21 communities, rather than 68 arbitrarily drawn sections.
       But Sanders' legacy will be his work as a pioneer of 
     community-oriented policing, the philosophy that pairs 
     residents with officers and other city agencies, such as code 
     enforces, to fight crime.

[[Page E215]]

       Because Sanders implemented this strategy so successfully, 
     the department has received millions of dollars in grants and 
     has become an international model.
       ``Sanders has a national reputation as one of the most 
     progressive, innovative and compassionate leaders in the 
     country,'' said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the 
     Police Executive Research Forum, a non-profit Washington 
     think tank. Sanders serves as treasurer and board member.
       The chief has been popular among officers and community 
     members since taking the helm in 1993, even in the face of a 
     few unpopular decisions.
       Sanders, a gregarious leader with an easy smile, once sued 
     the department for declining to promote him 13 times. He 
     began his law enforcement career at 22 in 1973, fulfilling 
     his life's dream to follow in his father's footsteps.
       He was promoted through the ranks and served as SWAT 
     commander during the San Ysidro massacre at McDonald's in 
     1984, when James Huberty methodically executed 21 people.
       After his appointment as chief in May 1993, his first speed 
     bump was contending with allegations of institutional racism, 
     but the problem subsided after Sanders met with black 
     leaders. He eventually required all members of the department 
     to attend diversity training.
       Perhaps his most unpopular decision was forbidding officers 
     to moonlight as security guards. The Police Officers 
     Association took him to court, and the group won.
       Still, his popularity remained constant. The chief endeared 
     himself by occasionally riding with patrol officers, showing 
     up whenever an officer was wounded, addressing his officers 
     by first name, and even trading a coveted indoor parking spot 
     for an outdoor space so he could interact with the ranks.
       And Sanders was beloved for reaching out to the community, 
     often attending meetings, serving on boards and even playing 
     Santa Claus for needy children.
       Sanders often revealed his soft side, appearing tearful 
     when announcing the recent suicides of two officers or the 
     arrests of two others for on-duty burglaries.
       As news of his impending departure spread through the 
     department and across the nation, regret over the loss of a 
     chief known as one of the country's most avant-garde law 
     enforcers was the prevailing reaction.
       ``What Tony Gwynn means to the Padres is what Jerry Sanders 
     means to law enforcement,'' said District Attorney Paul 
     Pfingst. ``He is the same professional, day in and day out, 
     and he has a great attitude, day in and day out. And if 
     they're not in the lineup, there's a big hole to fill.''
       Even Councilman George Stevens, who sometimes criticized 
     the department for its interaction with African-Americans, 
     raved about Sanders.
       ``He put the Police Department out with the people and 
     managed to implement programs that banned alcohol in parks 
     and a 10 p.m. curfew without a lot of reaction from our young 
     people of harassment or illegal search complaints. Not one 
     lawsuit. He get the credit for that,'' Stevens said.
       Sheriff Bill Kolender joined the chorus.
       ``I believe he is a leader not only within this county and 
     this state, but within the nation when it comes to community 
     involvement, problem-solving and compassion,'' said Kolender, 
     who served as San Diego policy chief for 15 years.
       Sanders said it will be hard for him to leave law 
     enforcement. But his energy was waning and he wanted to move 
     on before burnout set in.
       ``It's going to be very weird to go to work without a badge 
     and gun,'' he said. ``I think what I feel is a tremendous 
     sense of sadness to leave something I've been doing since I 
     was 22 years old.''

     

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