Salesforce Heavily Funds Reinstated SFPD Cadet Academy; Targets Diverse Youth
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced on Tuesday that the city's police department would revive a paid jobs for youth program it ended a decade ago and that Salesforce will heavily fund the program.
San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Cadet Academy will receive private donations as well as funding from the city's general fund for the program. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff will donate $1.5 million over three years with the city matching that amount. In addition, the program seeks the same amount from other potential donors within the tech sector.
"It allowed youths age 18-21 to really experience a paid internship with the police department. Have them exposed to what the police do every day, be at the stations, and be at the headquarters. It's a bona fide paying job," Lee said.
The program is open to all young adults, but Lee said its focus is on those living in high-risk neighborhoods for kids that have been exposed to long-term adversity and violence and to provide them with year-round jobs.
The three-year program will hire 40 youths each year where participants will earn $20,000 for 12 months of service.
The mayor said the idea for the program came about after he and police Chief Greg Suhr met with young adults from some of the high-risk neighborhoods. Lee said many of them felt that they were victimized in the past by police.