Photo by Haven Dunn

In the early afternoon on January 8, 25 clean and shiny San Diego police motorcycles parked in formation in front of La Paloma Theatre and the D Street Bar & Grill.

Those passing by on Coast Highway 101 may have wondered who was inside. Perhaps a surprise visit by the president? After all, Obama was on a hopscotch tour around the nation to promote his final two-year economic plan.

Turns out it was a 25-year retirement party for SDPD motorcycle officer Jerome Dawson disguised as a presidential escort. Dawson indicated that the department always has to train and be ready for dignitaries, escorting and blocking off streets and freeway exits. The last dignitary in town that required his team’s service was former speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (though Obama did visit Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs’s home in La Jolla last May).

Dawson indicated that President Obama is coming to town sometime in the near future, and the department had a few officers who needed some escort training. The ride from SDPD’s Aero Drive traffic division was a full-scale practice operation with about 40 officers from the sheriff’s department and CHP.

Dawson, age 50, said he missed being the officer who stopped traffic during the exercise. His crew mandated that he ride at the front of the procession on his final run. (He said he looks forward performing more with his band, Wazabe Blue, in which he plays saxophone, and often performs at D Street and other area clubs.)

Upon the procession’s approach to the D Street restaurant, SDPD police dispatch put out a final call to Dawson. “6-22 Mary?” Dawson responded on the radio, “10-42,” which meant he was at the end of duty and on his way home. Or in this case, a luncheon and congrats from his fellow officers.