In some parts of the country, there are some people who feel a distrust for police officers. SAPD wants to ensure that in our community, they have, or are earning, everyone’s trust. SAPD’s Media Services Unit recently launched a social media campaign to build on the trust we have within our community by highlighting the everyday lives of police officers.
Alongside the hashtag #BehindTheBadge, is a simple, yet powerful statement that reads, “We’re just like you. We laugh. We cry. We have families, goofy hobbies, and weird allergies. We come from all walks of life, but we are real people.”
The campaign intends to show examples of how police officers live their lives when the badge comes off. These brave men and women put their lives on the line for us everyday, but at the end of each day they go home to their families, just like the rest of us.
Here are some SAPD officers who have been good enough to share parts of their lives with us in this campaign:
- Officer Serrano shows off his new baby while holding a sign that reads, “I’m a brand new dad!”
- Officer Aguilar is a cancer survivor.
- Officer Esquivel says, “I used to dance in a show at Fiesta Texas.”
- Officer Zuniga, shown standing outside of La Villita, shares a photo of his grandfather with a sign that reads, “my great, great, great grandfather was mayor in 1862.”
- Officer Paredes is a brain aneurism survivor.
- Deputy Chief Treviño loves cooking for his family.
- Detective Chavez ran in the 116th Boston Marathon.
- Officer Rahman is a volunteer fire fighter.
- Officer Greene’s father played in the NFL.
- Officer Odoms is an MMA fighter. And from the looks of it, he’s pretty good! (Officer Odom is pictured holding a championship belt.)
- Detective Jimenez says she enjoys traveling the world as she shows us a picture of her with the pyramids on a recent trip.
- Officer Norman is the vocalist in a local rock band.
- Detective Valera enjoys beach volleyball in is off time.
- Officer Padilla owns a gym.
- Officer Briseno enjoys playing the bagpipes.
Officers around the country have also shared photos. An officer in Orange County shared a photo of two little girls hugging his legs not letting him leave with a sign that reads, “sometimes the toughest part of the shift is getting out the door.” Palm Beach PD’s Sheriff Phillips also disclosed that in his spare time he tutors local children after school.
To see these photos and more visit #BehindTheBadge on Facebook.