Glendale police deserve community support

It has been a privilege to attend the Glendale Police Department’s Summer 2013 Community Academy.

Although the opportunity to fire a semi-automatic rifle was certainly a highlight (“Police give residents a shot,” Aug.28), the Academy has a broader purpose: to teach residents about the GPD’s many divisions and operations, and inform of us of how we can engage with the GPD to help prevent crime and keep Glendale as safe as possible.

The Academy has been an eye-opener in so many ways. Mock traffic stops, domestic violence calls, and scenarios with the special weapons and tactics team gave us just a hint of the pressures to which officers are subject — and the immense responsibilities with which they are entrusted, all on our behalf.

The Glendale Police Foundation helped support the Academy and also supports training and equipment that might otherwise go unfunded due to budget cuts. Given that our expectations for the GPD do not decline along with its budget, I encourage Glendale residents and businesses to join the foundation (an affordable $25 per year), or contribute whatever amount they can (www.glendalepolicefoundation.org) to support the GPD and its brave and dedicated officers.

Jennifer Pinkerton
Glendale