History of Police Outreach
Dave retired in 2004, as a police Sergeant after almost twenty five years in law enforcement. All
but one year of that career was with the Westminster Police Department in Orange County, California. Dave is a volunteer with Safe Harbor International and serves as the International Director of Police Training & Outreach. Dave has been leading teams of police officers, chaplains, nurses and doctors to assist other countries with consulting and humanitarian aid since 1990. He began his work with Safe Harbor International in 2006.
Two key people that assist with this outreach are Captain Ben Atchley from the Albany Police Department in Oregon and Chaplain Robert Benoun from Westminster, California. Retired Police Captain Ben Atchley directs the training efforts on the ground in Sudan and Uganda and brings years of expertise both as an officer and manager. In addition Police Chaplain Robert Benoun provides his expertise as Police Chaplaincy programs are being introduced in Sudan and Uganda.
Dave has a desire to encourage law enforcement personnel who have to deal with the stress of their jobs while at the same time provide for the needs of their own families. This desire comes from Dave's own experience in law enforcement and he will be quick to tell you that it also comes from his own personal mistakes in life. Although this outreach is "faith Based" it is not a "Religious" work. God is in the business of "Restoration" and is interested in each of us personally. We cannot impress God by our "works" but we can go to Him in "Faith" and ask Him to use us for His purposes. Our teams come to share their expertise but have found that each time they leave Africa they were given much more in return by the people they have met.
Remember to pray for Dave, Ben, Robert and other Safe Harbor volunteers. Although our teams are training officers and government officials we are working throughout Sudan to assist Safe Harbor in their continued outreach to the thousands who are in need of food and shelter including the Darfur region.