September 2012 – Chief of Police William Lansdowne, along with Keith Jones, Principal of ACE Parking and AG Spanos, CEO of the San Diego Chargers held a press conference announcing the gift of 18 specialized patrol bicycles to the San Diego Police Foundation for use by SDPD and the Special Events Unit.

The new, specialized bicycles are equipped with technology and enhancements to support the officers. They are easy to maneuver and important for use in large crowd settings such as sporting events and community gatherings and also increase direct officer-to-community communication and interaction, which are key components to the SDPD’s community outreach policing approach in San Diego. Most recently the bicycles were used in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium during pre-game tailgating, which attracts thousands of fans for hours prior to the game. The officers can easily navigate the crowds and traffic and utilizing the bicycles enhances the connection between the officers and fans with the goal of creating a safe experience for all. The parking lot at Qualcomm is managed by ACE Parking and the bicycles also support the large ACE staff with crowd control and parking management.

“A strong, collaborative partnership between businesses, the San Diego Police Foundation and the SDPD is valuable in building a far greater and more direct connection between the department and the communities they serve,” states Sara Napoli, President & CEO of the San Diego Police Foundation.

The 18 bikes, valued at over $15,000 is a gift from long-time law enforcement supporter and San Diego Police Foundation board member, Keith Jones, Principal of ACE Parking. “As one of San Diego’s oldest family-owned businesses, we are proud to partner with the Police Foundation and the SDPD in creating a Safer San Diego,” states Keith Jones, Principal of ACE Parking.