Fuente: © San Diego Chargers
http://www.chargers.com/

NFL: Chargers visit police dispatch centers

/noticias.info/ By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Last week a handful of Chargers got a behind the scenes look at local law enforcement and gained a new respect for servicemen and women during a visit to the San Diego and National City police stations.

On Wednesday, Chargers Director of Security Dick Lewis took offensive linemen Mike Goff, Kris Dielman and Scott Mruczkowski as well as punter Mike Scifres, cornerback Drayton Florence and defensive lineman Jacques Cesaire to the San Diego station. Wide receiver Kassim Osgood, linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and linebacker Stephen Cooper were the guests of National City Police Chief Adolfo Gonzales on Thursday.

“It’s an opportunity for the Chargers to show our servicemen how much we appreciate what they do,” Lewis said. “We take this trip every year and the players seem to enjoy it and get a lot out of it.”

The players spent the majority of their afternoons in the communications department. Each athlete got the opportunity to visit with dispatchers and listen in as they took emergency calls.

“It was a great experience,” Mruczkowski said. “One woman that I sat with was finishing up a 15-hour shift. I listened in on calls concerning everything from a stolen Hummer to routine traffic stops. It was quite a rush.”

The players also took time to take pictures with the dispatchers and sign autographs for police department employees.

“We’re all diehard Chargers fans and we really enjoy getting to talk football with the players we cheer for every Sunday,” said Jill Forthmann, a nine-year veteran of the San Diego police dispatch. “It’s a stressful job. It’s so nice to receive the support of the Chargers. It definitely lifts our spirits and pushes us through.”

Lewis called the dispatchers the “backbone of the police department.” Players enjoyed getting to see the important role they play.

“They’re the unsung heroes that are on the phone every day confronting people long before the officers get to the scene,” Florence said. “They’re the eyes and ears for the officers. It was really cool to see how all that works.”

The players also received a tour of the booking area and got to chat with several officers

“It’s a tough, emotional job that takes a lot out of them,” Scifres said. “It was great to see what they do, and hopefully they were encouraged by us being there.” notas_de_prensa_archivo