3 ‘Women in Blue’ at SDPD honored

SAN DIEGO  — Three veterans of the San Diego Police Department were honored Wednesday at the fifth annual Women in Blue luncheon.

The event is sponsored by the San Diego Police Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to help the department, including for equipment, training and community outreach.

“The stories of women leaders in law enforcement continue to impart wisdom that is both inspiring and practical, providing role models for young people aspiring to leadership in law enforcement,“ Sara Napoli, president and CEO of the foundation, said in a statement.

San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, a Women in Blue honoree in 2014 and 2011, delivered the keynote speech at the luncheon, held at the San Diego Marriott La Jolla. About 350 people attended.

This year’s honorees were police Capt. Anastasia Smith, civilian employee Chris Haley, and police Lt. Tina Williams.

Williams has been with the department for 21 years and is the only woman on the SWAT team. One of her previous assignments was working with the gang-suppression team. She is currently the SWAT team’s executive officer.

Smith began her San Diego police career as a patrol officer in the Southeastern Division and has been with the department for more than 25 years. She has held investigative leadership positions with the Child Abuse Unit and Sex Crimes Unit, working with victims of sexual assault, molestation and abuse.

She was promoted to captain in 2013 and assigned to Southern Division, which includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

In March 2014, Smith was selected by the state Assembly’s 80th District as a “Woman of the Year.” In August, she was chosen to head the police department’s Professional Standards Unit and Internal Affairs Unit.

Haley has worked as a civilian employee of the department for 25 years. She has been a crime analyst and supervising crime analyst, and is currently program manager for information services, which provides statistics and analysis to assist officers in their work.