Christmas is coming early for San Diego Police Department’s Northern Division, which will receive funding from the annual Police and Emergency Services Appreciation Night in September in Crown Point.

Playing Santa Claus once again this year is the all-volunteer, nonprofit Pacific Beach Town Council. For 43 years, the council has hosted P.A.E.S.A.N., a community-wide celebration and tribute to first responders honoring police, lifeguards, firefighters, and park rangers.

SDPD Northern Division’s “present” this year from PBTC will be P.A.E.S.A.N barbecue proceeds funding a “wish list” of upgrades to the department’s community storefront at 4439 Olney St.

Members of PBTC and SDPD Northern Division huddled together recently at the storefront to talk about what is needed to remodel and revitalize the facility.

“This (Olney) location serves two purposes for us,” said Northern Division Lt. Matthew Botkin. “It is a place for the community to come to ask questions, complete some rudimentary tasks, and inquire about services. The second function it serves currently is really as a place of rest for the officers. From this location, it’s about a 20-minute drive (each way) with no traffic just to get back to Northern Division (based in UTC). What this location does for them (officers), in addition to storage for (bait) bikes, is it keeps them in the service area and available for immediate response.”

Of what’s needed for storefront repairs, Botkin said: “Just a general revamping of the facility itself. There’s something to be said about pride of ownership, and the overall feeling of a clean and tidy environment. When officers have that they feel more supported, have a place they want to use, and when they’re here, they’re in the community and able to respond quickly to calls for service.”

“The No. 1 request from officers is to fix the bathrooms,” noted Denise Friedman, a PBTC board member who’s been spearheading P.A.E.S.A.N.

“It’s a lot of the day-to-day facilities that just need to be completely redone, refreshed,” pointed out Charlie Nieto, PBTC president. “I can’t remember the last time this place was given any kind of love.”

“At least 15 years,” noted Northern Division Sgt. Geoff Burr.

“We just need to put some love back into this place, and the City doesn’t have that kind of money, so it has to come from community support,” concluded Nieto.

Jessica Thrift, SDPD community resource officer, pointed out the storefront serves a communication as well as a public safety function. “We’re looking at utilizing the space for events,” she said. “This will be a phenomenal space to use and to have so that the community knows this is ‘our’ substation, this is where ‘we’ can go. We’re looking to bring that back to the community.”

P.A.E.S.A.N will be held Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 4-6:30 p.m. at Playa II on East Mission Bay, 2590 E. Mission Bay Drive.

PRAISE FOR P.A.E.S.A.N

“The organized support of the Pacific Beach Town Council for our San Diego Police Department and all public safety officers is unparalleled. The City, County, and community contribute the resources and sweat equity to transform the Olney storefront and host the PAESAN BBQ celebration. ‘Together’ is how we get it done.” – Council President Pro Tem and District 1 Councilmember Joe LaCava.

“The improvements you seek to make with these funds, your time, and volunteer work are not merely cosmetic; they will have a profound impact on our daily operations and on the morale and working conditions of the brave men and women who continue to do their utmost to keep your community safe. – Erwin Manansala, acting assistant police chief.

“Our P.A.E.S.A.N. is a uniquely Pacific Beach event. What would PB look like without our first responders? We all need the tools to do our jobs and the annual Wish List helps us to provide these morale-boosting tools.  Everyone benefits.” – Elizabeth Dreisbach

“I love P.A.E.S.A.N. because it brings all parts of the Pacific Beach community together to support and honor the important work of our first responders while mingling with our neighbors and friends and eating great food.” – Barbara Bry, Blackbird Ventures, former District 1 City Council member.

“The PB American Legion Auxiliary has been honored to donate money to and attend P.A.E.S.A.N. for the past 10 years or so. We love to support our first responders and are excited every year to show them our appreciation. – Nancy Person, treasurer/secretary PB ALA Unit 552.

P.A.E.S.A.N.

The volunteer-based, nonprofit Pacific Beach Town Council is the oldest in the City, established in 1951. The group includes hundreds of individuals, families, and businesses in PB. For 43 years, PBTC has hosted the Police and Emergency Services Appreciation Night (P.A.E.S.A.N) drawing close to 400 first responders, community members, and elected officials who come together to honor all first responders. P.A.E.S.A.N was founded by Mary Wilding, Annie McDonald, and Anne Evans, and was first held on the grounds of the Catamaran Hotel until it outgrew the venue and moved to North Crown Point Shores. Three generations of the Wilding, Evans, and McDonald families remain involved today. While PBTC honors all the first responders – police, lifeguards, firefighters, and park rangers – each year one group among them is featured. Recognizing the City’s budget cannot supply first responders with all they need, PBTC steps to raise funds to purchase items on their Wish List. In 2024, the San Diego Police Department Northern Division will receive P.A.E.S.A.N. funding from PBTC to upgrade its community storefront at 4439 Olney St.

SDPD WISH LIST

SDPD is requesting funding for comprehensive renovations and updates to its Olney Community Storefront, which previously served as a hub for community members seeking non-emergency police assistance. It has since fallen into a state of utter disrepair and neglect, with the facility’s deterioration rendering it unfit for public use. SDPD proposes a comprehensive revitalization plan including painting all interior rooms, replacing flooring and window coverings, and commissioning local Pacific Beach artists to donate and hang artwork. The department also seeks to update the storefront’s bathrooms with new sinks, toilets, and storage cabinets. In the kitchen, SDPD aims to replace appliances and cabinetry. Improvements are to include the installation of a ductless air conditioning system, the procurement of 10 office chairs, and the replacement of the conference table and three outdated computers.

Additionally, SDPD would like to demonstrate community support for police by providing 300 yard signs for homes and businesses reading “Pacific Beach Appreciates Our Police.” Externally, SDPD proposes revitalizing the gardens, repainting the exterior, and replacing the building signage, along with installing new handicap parking signs. SDPD also seeks to provide 80 Trauma Kits that fit into officers’ flak vests to provide immediate care for traumatic injuries to victims, such as gunshot wounds and severe lacerations, etc.