Nonprofit has helped purchase K9, license plate reader, other equipment
Published in the April 1-14, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Police Chief David Swing
Morgan Hill is a safer community thanks to the efforts of the Community Law Enforcement Foundation, a nonprofit organization of local volunteers who assist the city’s police department by raising funds for special projects and equipment.
Morgan Hill Life asked Police Chief David Swing about how CLEF provides a positive impact in public safety in Morgan Hill.
How do you see MHPD’s unique partnership with the Community Law Enforcement Foundation helping to improve overall public safety in Morgan Hill?
We truly appreciate the dedication and hard work of each CLEF member to raise funds needed to provide essential safety and security equipment to enhance both officer safety and the safety of the community at-large. Like other cities, our budget constraints don’t allow us to purchase equipment and supplies that can supplement our department and allow it to function at the highest level. Because of CLEF’s work, we now have our K9 officer Sony, a license plate reader system, a NOPTIC camera for night vision, ballistic trauma plates for our SWAT team and ballistic panels in several of our patrol vehicles – just to name a few of the items donated by CLEF.
The foundation last year provided funding to purchase and train Sony, a police dog. Why is canine patrol so vital to the police department?
Our K9 officer Sony is a tremendous asset to our department. Sony along with his handler, Officer Santiago Fiero, have assisted in the successful apprehension of suspects in several cases. Having a K9 officer provides the police department with a depth and breadth we did not have before. Through CLEF, we not only received the funds to purchase Sony as well as required K9 equipment, but also basic law enforcement training for them both to learn how to operate as a team. Having a K9 with these skills not only helps to protect the Morgan Hill community but also our region as we are now able to provide mutual aide to neighboring communities who require a K9 during a critical incident.
MHPD CSI’s Bruce Dudley was selected to be this year’s Public Safety Award recipient at the Cops & Robbers Ball. How has Dudley provided benefit to the public safety in Morgan Hill?
After retiring from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, Bruce still had a yearning to continue his work in the CSI world and decided to assist his hometown police department. Bruce joined the Morgan Hill Police Department as a part-time employee when we didn’t have our own CSI team. For years, Bruce was the go to person for all our CSI needs. He was a one-man team. Bruce brought a sense of professionalism and dedication which in turn convinced the department that a full-time CSI team was a necessity for our future growth.
Bruce was again an integral partner in the creation of the CSI team. Although retired, Bruce has been on call, at all hours of the day and night, for the past several years. He has responded to almost all our major crime scenes and has also assisted with hundreds of cases behind the scenes. Bruce has played a key role in the collection of evidence which has resulted in the prosecution of many suspects who have committed crimes in Morgan Hill. Because of all these prosecutions, Bruce has increased trust and confidence in the police department and has increased the feeling of safety for our citizens.
Why should residents support community engagement such as CLEF in teaming with the MHPD to make a difference in public safety?
As first responders, we recognize that public safety is a true partnership between our community and the police and fire departments. We cannot do our jobs without the community’s support. CLEF is a great example of an effective community/police partnership. CLEF volunteers give of themselves and their time to work toward making our police department among the best in the region. Their commitment to public safety helps make Morgan Hill a great community to live, work and play.
Why might you encourage Morgan Hill residents to support CLEF by attending the fourth annual Cops & Robbers Ball April 25?
The Cops & Robbers Ball has become one of the preeminent community events in Morgan Hill. I’d like to extend a personal invitation to all Morgan Hill residents to attend this enjoyable and worthwhile event. CLEF volunteers work tirelessly to make it an evening of good fun, good fun and good company. It’s a great way to support the community and benefit public safety in Morgan Hill. It’s also an opportunity to get to know members of MHPD in outside of the Department. I look forward to seeing you on April 25 at the Cops & Robbers Ball.
