From the loudspeaker came a cheerful, “Good morning, this is your Captain. Let’s go fishing!” With that, a 75-foot sportfishing boat named the Dolphin pulled away from the dock and into San Diego Bay. Anyone on shore would have wondered why a San Diego Harbor Police firefighting vessel followed behind on the port side with lights blazing and siren blaring. Then, they would have seen dozens of elementary schoolers onboard waving and smiling. This was no emergency but rather the start of a fun-filled day called, ‘Fish with a Cop.’

The San Diego Harbor Police Foundation (SDHPF) cares about building positive relationships; especially with at-risk children who can benefit greatly from ongoing interaction with mentors. Students at Perkins K-8 School, located in an industrial area south of downtown San Diego, certainly qualify. Nearly all 400 live in poverty. Three out of 10 suffer from homelessness. Principal Fernando Hernandez says student surveys show that most students experience high levels of trauma and stress in their lives. Some spend their nights in a shelter or a car. Others have a parent who is incarcerated. There have been incidents of domestic violence. “It’s our job to not only teach academics but to lessen the impact of the stress and trauma that they come to school with every day,” Hernandez said. That’s where an ongoing, positive relationship with law enforcement is invaluable.

Officers with the San Diego Harbor Police volunteer their time at the school. Each officer stays with the same students from the time they enter kindergarten through 8th grade. Officers may show up in gym clothes to kick a soccer ball with students during recess. Or officers may drop by class in uniform to say hello to their young friends. Wherever an officer is, students excitedly gather like paparazzi surrounding a celebrity. Officer Dylan Marston began visiting Perkins six years ago. “These kids mean a lot to me. I want them to know that I’m a police officer and I’m a person who likes to have fun.”

In support of those crucial officer-student relationships, SDHPF funds many special events. The 4th, 5th, and 6th graders who experienced ‘Fish with a Cop’ had never been on a boat or held a rod. Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies coached them on how to hook bait, drop their line, and reel in rockfish, red vermillion, and the occasional sculpin. Regardless of whether a fish was two inches or 20 inches long, the kids and officers were beaming. In moments like these, Hernandez points to research. “Studies show that a positive relationship with a mentor is one of the greatest antidotes to combating childhood stress,” he says.

Another creative mentoring event that excites the kids is ‘Jiu Jitsu with a Cop.’ On this day, gym mats cover the floor of the school’s multipurpose room, and punching bags hang from the ceiling. Students practice rolling away from an ‘attacker’ and other self-defense tactics to build their confidence. At one station, they choose from several sizes of boxing gloves and jab with officers armed with training mitts. At another station, they work on their footwork. Students end the afternoon tired and sweaty, yet pumped up. Every one of them leaves saying, ‘Thank you.’

The words thank you have importance at Perkins. They’re part of the culture of kindness carefully fostered there. Every Monday morning, the school holds an assembly so students can learn and practice positive social behaviors to set them up for success. “Gratitude is not a natural human emotion. We have to teach it to our students,” Hernandez says. So he and the entire staff work with great intentionality to instill the importance of expressing thanks when receiving a compliment or a gift. Students learn how to say ‘Hello’ with a smile, and a firm handshake with strong eye contact. In support of that culture, SDHPF provides frequent practice opportunities that might include a pizza party, a visit from Santa, and even new classroom furniture. Recently, a team of Harbor Police officers handed out hundreds of luxury pillows that had been donated by a local hotel. Needless to say, the surprise delivery was a huge hit with the kids. “When you walk onto the Perkins campus, you will likely be greeted by a student eager to say hello, or to thank you for coming,” said Jeff Wohler, SDHPF President and CEO. “When you see that smile and those eyes, it’s a reminder that every one of these children matters, and our support is critical.”

The Food4Kids program which the foundation helps fund deals with the very real issue of food scarcity in many of their lives. Those children leave school with a backpack full of nutritious items every Friday. But the students are equally hungry for connection and the message that their future is bright. That outreach and support extends to an after-school program called Teachers RUL which SDHPF created in 2021 in response to the devastating learning loss students suffered during the pandemic. Many of the students were already performing below grade level in reading comprehension. The pandemic set those students back even further. Tutors with Teachers RUL meet two afternoons a week with students who are most in need of academic support. Besides reading books together, a true friendship develops. These students have someone cheering them on, encouraging their learning, and reinforcing the importance of education. The foundation also offers $50 scholarship awards to students who get straight As. In two years, the number has jumped from four students to 20.

When students stepped onto the dock at the end of a 5-hour fishing trip, one boy shouted, “I caught tonight’s dinner!’ as he held up a plastic bag filled with fish filets. Whether you call it kindness or support, the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation and the officers who donate their time find creative ways to let Perkins students know that the community cares about them. ❦

About the Author

Jeff Wohler is a lawyer and a former Special Agent with the US Treasury Department where he worked on organized crime and complex financial investigations. Once his work with the Treasury Department concluded he focused on progressively responsible business experiences including 30 years at the Presidential and Chief Executive Officer level. He has owned and/or operated multiple corporations, including a publicly traded company, in industries to include water remediation, export trading with offices in fourteen countries, and offshore shipping. In his role as President and CEO of the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation he has created a robust Human Trafficking awareness training program that contains six separate segments including Housekeeping and Room Service, Front Desk and Guest Services, Hotel Security, Airport Workers, Airport Security, Food and Beverage. All of these training modules are available through their website at www.helpstophumantrafficking.org

Jeff is the recipient of multiple awards including the President of the United States “E” Award for Excellence in International Trade, the 2021 and 2022 ASTORS Platinum Award for Excellence in Public Safety and Community Enrichment sponsored by American Security Today, along with the 2022 Hope Rising award for the Foundations work in Human Trafficking.

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