LAW & ORDER EDITION
“ I feel like I make a difference here in some small way , and it ’ s not a paper-pushing kind of difference . It ’ s a real difference .”
Photo courtesy Chris Haley
BADGE OF HONOR In addition to her recent Women in Blue recognition , Haley has received numerous accolades throughout her career in public service .
Photo : Taylor Sanderson , ’ 15
HOW FAR WE ’ VE COME When Haley started with the SDPD , crime stats were plotted on a paper map with a well-used ruler she keeps to this day .
she says , producing an aged green ruler and pointing out the thick black ring encircling one of the holes , the product of many pencils plotting crime locations on a paper map . Naturally , this was before computer technology changed everything .
“ We went from one resource-room computer that nobody used , to there being a line to use it , to us each having our own ,” Haley says . Yet the technology is not the only thing that has grown — Haley can see a change in herself as well . Reflecting on her beginnings at the department , she explains how as a newcomer she viewed crime through slightly more innocent eyes .
“ I can tell you I was really naïve when I started working for the department ,” Haley says with a laugh . “‘ People don ’ t actually rob banks , right ? I mean , really ?’ I really thought that when I was in college .”
NOW WITH A WORLD OF EXPERIENCE under her belt , Haley certainly sees things differently . A bird ’ s-eye view of crime in one of America ’ s biggest cities can yield a stark and perhaps daunting understanding of the criminal world , yet she has always maintained an optimistic outlook .
“ My eyes have been opened [ to ] a lot of things that hopefully people don ’ t have to know about , I suppose , but there ’ s a lot of encouraging stuff , too ,” she says . “ In the 25 years that I ’ ve been here , crime is down a lot . It ’ s gone down almost every year since I ’ ve been here .”
For her years of dedicated service , Haley was recently honored as one of three women at the San Diego Police Foundation ’ s fifth annual Women in Blue luncheon . “ That award was really humbling to me ,” she says . “ While it ’ s traditionally been a male-dominated field in general , that ’ s changing . There are more and more women . The women that have been recognized in the last five years are amazing . So to be included in that is seriously humbling . I was really amazed when that happened .”
From the rookie days of plotting crime hotspots with her ruler to becoming a recognized leader in her field , Haley loves where she ’ s landed and has remained ever loyal to public service for the good of the community . And while that may not be the stuff of C . S . I . drama , it remains the major reason why her job has impact .
“ I like feeling like I ’ m making a difference . That was one of the reasons why I wanted to work in the public sector rather than private sector : making a difference . I want to do something for the community ,” she says . “ I feel like I make a difference here in some small way , and it ’ s not a paper-pushing kind of difference . It ’ s a real difference .”
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