SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – A San Diego program has received a state grant to train law enforcement officers across California.
The program, Game Changer, was founded in 2016 by Sean Sheppard after he saw large protests break out across the country against police brutality.
His idea was simple. He would bring members of the public together with law enforcement officers over a sports game.
“To get some human bonding time,” explains Sheppard. “Because that rarely takes place between law enforcement and the general public.”
Before, they would talk for a few hours about what issues they saw between police and the communities they serve. After, they would get to socialize at the game.
Since 2016, Game Changer has hosted 60 events and continues to grow.
The Game Changer model was just awarded a 2-year, $200,000 grant from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
Once the program is accredited, law enforcement personnel who complete a Game Changer event can put it toward their required training credit hours.
Members of the public are needed too. To sign up for a Game Changer event, check out their website
Are You A Game Changer?
Game Changer brings together community members, law enforcement, judicial and legislative branches of government for moderated focus groups. Together we discuss community problems and devise solutions. Dinner and event tickets are provided. Pre and Post perception surveys are completed by each participant to generate data.