KPBS Evening Edition

San Diego Police Debut Low Rider To Strengthen Community Relations

By Dwane Brown / KPBS Evening Edition Anchor/Reporter

Published May 1, 2013 at 2:42 PM PDT

This story was published more than 11 years ago.

SDPD Low Rider

San Diego Police Debut Low Rider To Strengthen Community Relations

What has four wheels, a hydraulic system and a bumping stereo you can hear driving up the street?

What has four wheels, a hydraulic system and a bumping stereo you can hear driving up the street?

That would be "The Guardian," a new promotional tool for the San Diego Police Department that debuted today in the city's Skyline neighborhood.

The low rider is part of an outreach effort that SDPD hopes will build community connections with police and dispel any bad blood. Project leaders said the idea came from Los Angeles, where a similar program created better relations between police and the community.

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Community organizers said it wasn't easy to get the low rider project off the ground. They've been trying to partner with police for about three years now. To bridge the gap, using something they can relate too, but in a positive way.

"Unfortunately, low riders have a negative stigma," said Mayra Nunez, liaison for the low rider community.

Officer Gerardo Serrano added that the Skyline area "has always had an 'us-versus-them' mentality" and that it's hoped the low rider will change things.

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Dwane Brown

Brown started his career with KPBS in the early '90s as a radio anchor and reporter before expanding his broadcast news experience at CBS radio and television in New York. He’s been a news director, anchor, reporter and correspondent in San Francisco and has worked as a writer, producer, assignment editor and talk show host. He returned to KPBS in 2005. As the former anchor for KPBS Evening Edition, Brown provided an in-depth look at issues and stories relevant to San Diego. He spent nearly seven years as anchor/host of Morning Edition on KPBS Radio. Between 2006 and 2010, the San Diego Press Club named Brown "Best Morning Newscaster" in San Diego Radio. In 2006, the Society of Professional Journalists also named him "Best Morning Newscaster." During that time he managed and taught a two-week high school boot camp for aspiring radio reporters at KPBS in conjunction with the California Chicano News Media Association. Brown studied English/Journalism at San Diego State University and is a Fast Trac graduate from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. He’s a popular public speaker and Toastmaster International member. He’s been master of ceremonies for the American Red Cross, VA Medical Center San Diego, Urban League, San Diego Office of Emergency Services and numerous foundations. Brown is also a voice actor for movie, documentary, television, radio and Internet projects.

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