>> THERE IS NO RECORD OF HIM BEING DISCIPLINED.

>> WHAT IS YOUR BEEF, MAN?

>> CAN YOU PLEASE GET OFF.

>> INVESTIGATORS SAY HE GRABBED THE YOUNG MAN BY THE NECK AND THREW HIM TO THE GROUND EVEN THOUGH HE WAS HANDCUFFED AND NOT RESISTING.

HE THEN DOUSED HIM WITH PEPPER SPRAY FROM A DISTANCE OF 12 TO 18 INCHES DOUBLE THE RECOMMENDED DISTANCE OF 3 FEET.

HE ALSO DIDN'T OFFER MEDICAL ATTENTION ANY STATE ON THE FORCE UNTIL 2019 WHEN ARRESTED FOR FELONY ASSAULT.

HE COULDN'T BE REACHED FOR COMMENT AND HIS ATTORNEY TOLD POLICE INVESTIGATORS THAT HE HAD BEEN GOING THROUGH A TURBULENT SITUATION WITH HIS WIFE AND MOTHER OF HIS CHILD WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO HIS STATE OF MIND AT THE TIME.

THE POLICE CAPTAIN OVERSEES THE RECORDS DEPARTMENT.

HE WOULDN'T DO AN INTERVIEW AND HE SAID THEY ONLY KEEP DISCIPLINARY RECORDS FOR THREE YEARS AFTER AN OFFICER LEAVES THE FORCE.

HE LEFT 3 1/2 YEARS AGO.

>> I THINK THE GENERAL CONCEPTION IS THEY ARE TRYING TO WHITEWASH THINGS.

>> Reporter: HE SAID TRANSPARENCY HELPS BUILD TRUST.

>> IT IS AND IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO HAVE A COP OUT THERE DOING BAD STUFF EITHER IN THE COMMUNITY OR IN YOUR OWN AGENCY.

THAT IS A CANCER.

>> Reporter: YOU KNOW RUNS WELLNESS TRAINING SESSIONS AND SAID OFFICERS DON'T KNOW HOW TO COPE WITH THE STRESS AND DRAMA OF POLICE WORK WHICH LEADS THEM TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE OR IMPULSIVE.

>> BECAUSE IF THEY ARE NOT WELL AND HEART OR MIND OR BODY OR SPIRIT, THEY WON'T BE PROFESSIONAL, GOOD, EFFECTIVE OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BE LESS SAFE.

>>> AND 2019 THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT PROCEDURE WITH THEY SHOULD BE RESTRAINED NO LONGER THAN 15 SECONDS AND IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR AND OFFICER HELD ONE FOR 38 SECONDS.

POLICE BODY CAMERA SHOWS ANOTHER OFFICER TELLING HIM TO STOP, BUT HE KEPT GOING.

>> LET HIM GO.

LET HIM GO.

>> THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WANT HIM IN HANDCUFFS OR TELL THE MAN WHY THEY WANT TO QUESTION HIM AND ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS, THE MAN TRIED TO HEADBUTT THEM.

>> PUT YOUR HANDS BACK.

STOP.

>> Reporter: THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATORS SAID THAT HIS CHOKEHOLD CREATED A SUBSTANTIAL RISK FOR BODILY INJURY.

WE DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS DISCIPLINED AT ALL.

EARLIER THIS YEAR THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT MADE 93 MISCONDUCT CASES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND EVERY CASE WAS INVESTIGATED BY INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT OFFICERS DID SOMETHING WRONG.

ONE THIRD OF THOSE CASES, INCLUDING HIS, DON'T HAVE ANY DISCIPLINARY RECORD.

THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY MEAN THESE OFFICERS WEREN'T DISCIPLINED.

IT JUST MEANS WE DON'T HAVE THE RECORDS.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE REASONS WHY THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE RECORDS.

THE POLICE CAPTAIN SAID THERE MAY NOT BE A PAPER TRAIL BECAUSE THE PUNISHMENT WASN'T SEVERE.

>> THE MOST REASONABLE EXPLANATION IT WAS LESS INFORMAL TO BE HANDLED OR MAYBE THE GUY HAD TO TAKE A CLASS OR MAYBE HE HAD TO DO SOME DIFFERENT TRAINING.

MAYBE HE GOT SCOLDED BY THE LIEUTENANT.

>> Reporter: THE POLICE CAPTAIN JEFF JORDAN OVERSEES THE RECORDS DEPARTMENT AND HE DIDN'T MAKE ANYONE AVAILABLE TO AN INTERVIEW BUT HE RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL AND JORDAN SAID THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A DIFFERENT PERIODS FOR DIFFERENT ACTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE KEEP A WRITTEN WARNING FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE DELETING THEM AND THAT EXPLAINS MISSING DISCIPLINE RECORDS FOR OLDER CASES BUT NOT FOR NEWER ONES.

HE IS THE LEGAL DIRECTOR FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION AND SAYS ANOTHER REASON FOR MISSING RECORDS IS THAT OFFICERS QUIT OR RETIRE BEFORE THEY GOT IN TROUBLE.

>> HISTORICALLY, THAT HAS BEEN A COMMON LOOPHOLE, WERE OFFICERS MIGHT RESIGN TO AVOID A FINDING OR AVOID SOME DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS.

>> Reporter: WHATEVER THE REASON FOR THE MISSING DISCIPLINE, WE KNOW HE LEFT IN 2022 AND NOW WORKS FOR THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT.

IT IS UNCLEAR IT WHY HE LEFT OR WHAT IF ANY RECORDS FOR DISCIPLINE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO.

THEY SAID THEY CHECKED PERSONAL RECORDS FROM PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS AND IT CREATES TENSION BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

ABRAHAM JARVIS HAS SEVERAL OPEN COMPLAINTS AGAINST SP TD OFFICERS.

HE IS ALREADY 18 AND HAS ALREADY LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES HE HAS BEEN PULLED OVER.

>> I WOULD SAY ABOUT 14 OR 15 TIMES.

>> Reporter: IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE HE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE.

>> I WOULD TAKE THE FREEWAY JUST TO GET MY BROTHER FROM MY AUNTIE'S HOUSE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE ROADS WHERE I WOULD BE PULLED OVER.

IT HAS BEEN TOUGH.

>> Reporter: HIS MOTHER DOESN'T THINK THE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING THE COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND SHE ALSO BELIEVES HER SON WOULD BE SAFER FROM THE POLICE OUTSIDE OF SAN DIEGO.

ABRAHAM WILL JOIN THE ARMY.

>> WE DISCUSSED THIS.

IT WAS GOING TO BE SAFER.

>> Reporter: HE SAID IT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE.

>> NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THEIR CHILD LEAVE, BUT THIS WILL BENEFIT MY CHILD AND JUST THE FEAR OF JUST KNOWING THAT ANYTIME HE IS OUT AND ABOUT AND THEY CAN DO ANYTHING AND GET AWAY WITH IT AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

>> Reporter: SHE HAS ALWAYS RESPECTED THE POLICE, BUT THE TREATMENT OF HER SON HAS CHANGE THAT AND SHE NOW RESPECTS THE ONES DOING THEIR JOB AND NOT THE ONES HARASSING HER CHILD.

>> THIS STORY WAS REPORTED WITH AN INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT PARTNER OF KPBS.

>>> WE COVER A WIDE VARIETY OF PUBLIC SAFETY STORIES AND NOW OUR NEWSROOM HAS CREATED A COVERAGE POLICY GUIDING DECISIONS ON WHAT STORIES WE PRIORITIZE AND WHAT STORIES WE AVOID AS WELL AS WHOSE NARRATIVES WE NEED TO INCLUDE.

THIS WORK WAS DONE WITH A LOT OF INPUT FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND TRAINING AND GUIDANCE FROM THE JOURNALISM ORGANIZATION, POINTER.

YOU CAN DO THIS NEW POLICY AT OUR WEBSITE.

>>> THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT TELLS PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE NOT WELCOME ANYWHERE ELSE, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.

RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE NOT WELCOME IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK WHERE THEY ARE OPERATING.

WE FIND OUT WHY.

>> Reporter: THIS FOUNDATION HAS BEEN AT THE INDUSTRIAL PARK IN OCEANSIDE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

>> OVER THE YEARS IT HAS EVOLVED INTO A COMPREHENSIVE ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ANYBODY AND THEY COULD BE ENCOUNTERING ANY TYPE OF DIFFICULTIES.

>> Reporter: HE IS THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES MANAGER HERE WHICH OFFERS RESOURCES MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

>> DAILY WE SERVE RECKLESS TO HUNDREDS OF ON SHELTERED INDIVIDUALS AND LOW INCOME, WORKING-CLASS POOR AND INDIVIDUALS AND WE DEAL WITH HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WHO RELY ON US FOR THE GROCERY ITEMS AND DIAPERS AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN.

WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET THEIR MAIL HERE.

>> SOME OF THEM ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND THEY HAVE STARTED A PETITION ASKING THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE TO REVOKE THEIR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.

THAT PERMIT LETS THEM OPERATE IN THE BUSINESS PARK AS LONG AS THEIR OPERATIONS AREN'T DETRIMENTAL TO THE PUBLIC OR NEARBY PROPERTIES.

THE PETITIONERS CITY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH LAWYERING, THEFT AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

IT'S NOT LIVING UP TO THE CONDITIONS OF THE PERMIT.

>> IT IS NOT FAIR TO US.

I DON'T SEE A FUTURE HERE.

MY NEIGHBOR DOESN'T GO TO THE DUMPSTER WITHOUT A GUN ON HIM.

I CAN'T HAVE MY DAUGHTERS WORK HERE.

HOW IS THIS FAIR TO ME?

THIS IS NOT FAIR.

>> Reporter: HE OWNS A BUSINESS IN THE INDUSTRIAL PARK AND HAS SEEN THINGS LIKE PEOPLE USING DUMPSTERS AS TOILETS.

>> MY DUMPSTER HAS BEEN DISINFECTED AND CLEANED AND THE RAIN HAS WASHED A LOT OUT.

AND IT WAS DANGEROUS.

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HEPATITIS AND I WEAR GLOVES WHEN I GOT THERE.

IT ISN'T RIGHT.

>> Reporter: HE SHARED IMAGES OF SOME OF THE THINGS HE HAS ENCOUNTERED OUTSIDE OF HIS BUSINESS AND HE SAID MOST OF THE PEOPLE PICTURED ARE GETTING SOME KIND OF RESOURCE FROM BROTHER BENNO'S.

>> I AM FRUSTRATED WITH BROTHER BENNO'S BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE COMPASSION FIXES THIS.

I FEEL LIKE IT KEEPS PEOPLE COMPLACENT IN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE AND I THINK IT HAS PROLONGED IT.

>> Reporter: HE ALSO HAS A BUSINESS NEARBY AND HE FEELS TORN BECAUSE HE SEES A FAMILIES GOING THERE FOR FOOD BUT HE SUPPORTS THE PETITION BECAUSE A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAUSING PROBLEMS HAVE GONE IGNORED FOR TOO LONG.

>> IF SOMEBODY IS SLEEPING IN FRONT OF OUR DOOR, WE CAN'T WAKE THEM UP AND SAY, EXCUSE ME.

WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE POLICE TO COME WAKE THEM UP.

IT ISN'T RIGHT.

IT IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION.

NOBODY IS REALLY DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS IN MY OPINION.

>> Reporter: OCEANSIDE POLICE SAID THEY HAVE ISSUED OVER 70 CITATIONS IN THE BUSINESS PARK.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES THESE PROBLEMS, BUT HE SAID THE PEOPLE CAUSING THEM ARE JUST A HANDFUL OUT OF THE 5000 INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED AT BROTHER BENNO'S.

>> IT IS A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, INCREDIBLY SMALL AND MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY THEN WHY CAN'T YOU MANAGE IT.

THAT IS A QUESTION WE ALL HAVE.

WHAT CAN WE DO AND HOW DO WE FIND SOMEWHERE FOR PEOPLE TO GO BECAUSE THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS?

>> Reporter: THEY OWN THE BUILDING AND THEY DON'T GET FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

HE SAID THEY ARE DOING THE BEST WITH WHAT THEY HAVE BUT PUSHING THE PROBLEM TO SOMEBODY ELSE WON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> IT COMES BACK TO WE SIGNED UP TO HELP PEOPLE AND SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T DO THAT BUT SIGNED UP TO MAKE MONEY.

THAT IS OKAY.

THAT IS FINE.

BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST TO HELP PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THEY WILL BE DOING THEIR BEST WITH LIMITATIONS.

AS A RESULT OF THE PETITION, THEY HAVE TO CLOSE EARLIER AND THEY HAVE HIRED MORE SECURITY TO PATROL THE AREA.

THEY MADE THOSE CHANGES LAST WEEK.

THESE BUSINESS OWNERS SAY IT WILL BE A FEW WEEKS BEFORE HE CAN SAY WHETHER THINGS HAVE IMPROVED.

>>> IT IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AREAS IN SAN DIEGO.

THE FUTURE HERE IS COMING INTO FOCUS.

R REPORTER JOHN CAROL CITY NEW PROPOSAL BY THE CITY CONTAIN SOME BIG CHANGES.

>> Reporter: THIS COVE COVERS 500 ACRES WITH AND MISSION BAY PARK.

A NEW PROPOSAL, THE DRAFT, AND AMENDMENT TO THE MASTER PLAN, WAS JUST RELEASED BY THE CITY.

IT IS AN INITIAL PROPOSAL WITH A LOT OF REFINING YET TO COME.

>> THIS IS A HIGH-LEVEL PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES A BROAD RANGE OF USES AND THESE CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO ACTIVE RECREATION AND PARKLANDS AND VISITOR ACCOMMODATIONS.

>> Reporter: UNDER THE PROPOSAL, SOME OF THE AREA CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY CAMP LAND ON THE BAY WILL BE RETURNED TO WETLANDS AND WE REACHED OUT TO THE FAMILY WHO IS RUN CAMP LAND FOR YEARS FOR COMMENT, BUT NOBODY GOT BACK TO US.

>> Reporter: THE MAJOR CHANGE UNDER THIS NEW PLAN WOULD BE THE ADDITION AND RESTORATION OF WETLANDS AND MORE THAN 130 ACRES OF NEW WETLANDS WOULD BE ADDED TO THE CURRENTLY NEARLY 79 ACRE KENDALL FROST MARSH RESERVE IN THE CITY PLANNING DIRECTOR SAID IT IS IMPORTANT TO THE LONG-TERM TO ADDRESS SEALEVEL RISE.

>> MAKING SURE WE HAVE A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A LIFETIME.

>> Reporter: THEY SAID THE CITY HAS BEEN HEARING FROM STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC FOR YEARS AND THAT INPUT HAS INFORMED THE NEW PLAN OF WHAT THIS AREA SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

HE SAID DECISIONS ABOUT WHO WILL GET LEASES FOR RECREATION AREAS IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

>> THAT WILL OCCUR ONCE THE PLAN IS ADOPTED.

>> Reporter: NEW RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENVISIONED INCLUDING GOLF OPPORTUNITIES AND TENNIS COURTS.

THEY SAID THE AREA COULD BE AN ECONOMIC DRIVER INCLUDING ECOTOURISM.

YOU CAN HAVE A SAY IN ALL OF IT.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS ON APRIL 20 AND WE WILL HAVE A LINK ON WHERE YOU CAN COMMENT ON OUR WEBSITE.

THE CITY COUNCIL WAS EXPECTED TO ADOPT THE PLAN BY LATE THIS YEAR AND THEN A YEARS LONG PROCESS WILL BEGIN TO TRANSFORM THIS MOST UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL PART OF SAN DIEGO.

JOHN CAROL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST READ STORIES THIS WEEK ON KPBS.ORG.

AND AWARD-WINNING TEACHERS ACCUSED OF AN INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A STUDENT AND WE HAVE DETAILS ON WHAT LED TO HER ARREST.

>> SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC IS CONSIDERING ANOTHER RATE HIKE IN HERE IS SOME OF THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY OF CUSTOMERS FRUSTRATED BY INCREASING COSTS.

>> THE INVESTIGATION INTO POLICE DISCIPLINE RECORDS, YOU CAN IN VIEW SOME OF THESE INCLUDED IN OUR REPORTING.

>>> THE SAN UNION HIGH SCHOOL IS MAKING A NEW APPROACH FOR A NEW SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.

WE SHOW YOU HOW IT IS MEANT TO BRING CALM OUT OF THE CHAOS THAT HAS TROUBLED THAT DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: AMONG THE SMILES AND THIS WAS COLLABORATION AT THIS FORUM AND THESE ARE PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO DO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> CHARACTERISTICS, EXPERIENCE THAT YOU THINK THE PERFECT CANDIDATE HAS OR SHOULD POSSESS.

>> Reporter: GARY RUTHERFORD IS AN ADVISOR WITH A CONSULTING FORM HIRED BY THE NEW BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO IDENTIFIED QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT JOB.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, COLLECTING INPUT FROM THE DISTRICTS STAKEHOLDERS AND WORKING NEXT TO EACH OTHER, EXCHANGING OPINIONS AND CONCERNS.

>> THIS IS A GOOD START TO LET PARENTS GET THEIR OPINIONS AND ALSO KNOW EACH OTHER.

AS LONG AS THEY CAN REALLY GET OUR POINT.

>> TEACHERS WORKING WITH STUDENTS AND KEEPING POLITICS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT TO BE ABLE TO BRING US BACK TO.

>> DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?

>> Reporter: THERE ARE NOW THREE NEW MEMBERS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTED LAST NOVEMBER, LEADING THE DECISION TO HIRE THE CONSULTING FIRM FOR THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.

>> THIS BOARD IS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE GOOD WORK ON THE SCHOOL SIDE AND SEEING HOW WE ARE SUPPORTIVE AND NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE GOOD WORK THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DO BY CREATING THE SIDESHOWS I WILL CALL THEM.

>> Reporter: YOU WILL REMEMBER LAST YEAR THE FORMER SCHOOL BOARD FIRED THE THEN SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR WARD FOR MAKING RACIALLY CHARGED COMMENTS.

DOCTOR WARD APOLOGIZED SEVERAL TIMES SPEAKING PUBLICLY AND THE MEDIA ABOUT HER MISTAKE.

SHE SPOKE WITH KPBS NEWS LAST SPRING, BEFORE SHE WAS LET GO IN JUNE.

>> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THEY WILL FIRE YOU?

>> THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DO.

>> Reporter: THAT WAS THEN AND THIS IS NOW.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, SHE SAID, IT IS MY HOPE THAT EVERY STUDENT AN ADULT IN THE DISTRICT IS SEEN, HEARD, INCLUDED AND SUPPORTED.

I WISH THE BOARD GOOD LUCK IN THIS JOURNEY AND WILL PRAY FOR WHOEVER IS ELECTED TO BE THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.

WITH INPUT FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE BOARD MEMBERS PLAN TO START INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES IN APRIL.

>>> NEXT MONTH A NEW LEADER WILL TAKE COMMAND OF THE SAN DIEGO INSTITUTE.

WE SHARE MORE ABOUT THE BACKGROUND AND VISION OF JERRY JOYCE.

>> Reporter: YOU CAN WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY THAT LEADS TO THE PRESIDENTS OFFICE AT THIS INSTITUTE AND YOU SEE SIX PHOTOGRAPHS ON THE WALL SHOWING THE SIX NOBEL LAUREATES WHO DID THEIR LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH YEAR.

THE PRESIDENT DESIGNATE GERALD JOYCE, SAID THEY ARE A SYMBOL OF THE INSTITUTE FOR LASER FOCUS DIVISION.

>> THE FACULTY AND OTHER SCIENTISTS HERE FOCUS INTENSELY ON SCIENCE AND IS IMPORTANT AS THE TEACHING MISSION IS, THAT IS NOT WHAT WE DO HERE.

AS IMPORTANT AS THE CLINICAL MISSION IS, THAT IS NOT WHAT WE DO HERE AND WE ARE 100% FOCUSED ON SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY.

>> Reporter: HE CAME TO SAN DIEGO TO GET HIS PHD AND MEDICAL DEGREE AND IS RESEARCH SPECIALTY IS RNA A CLOSE COUSIN TO DNA.

HE WILL STEP IN TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT FROM HIS CURRENT ROLE AS THE CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER HERE WHERE HE HAS BEEN ON THE FACULTY SINCE 2017.

A GUY WHO SEEMS TO HAVE A HARD TIME SITTING STILL, HE SAID AND INSTITUTE WITH A HERITAGE LIKE THIS CAN'T BE HAPPY TO JUST CONTINUE WHAT HAS COME BEFORE.

>> AS MUCH AS WEEK EXPECT TO RESPECT AND ADMIRE WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST, IT IS ABOUT WHAT WE DO NEXT.

>> Reporter: SO WHAT IS HE THINK IS NEXT?

>> WE SEE A UNION OF UNDERSTANDING BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES ESPECIALLY COMPUTATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES TO HARVEST BIG DATA AND PROCESS THAT AND USE IT AS A GUIDE TO EXPERIMENT.

>> Reporter: ONE EXAMPLE, THE EFFORT HERE AT SALK TO MAP THE NEURONS OF THE BRAIN FUNDED BY THE BIGGEST GRANT IN THEIR HISTORY.

>> THE SCALE OF THIS DATASET IS INSANE.

NOT ONLY IS IT LARGE BUT IT IS MULTI VARIANT AND YOU TRY TO MATCH DIFFERENT DATA STREAMS TOGETHER AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THIS IS TO GET MORE SOPHISTICATED IN OUR BIO COMPUTATION CAPABILITIES.

>> Reporter: AS PRESIDENT NOW HE CAN'T JUST BE A SCIENTIST BUT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INSTITUTE'S CULTURE.

IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS HE HAS FACED LAWSUITS THAT INCLUDE SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION.

HE SAID THERE HAS BEEN A SHIFT IN CULTURE.

>> WE ARE MUCH MORE COLLABORATIVE AND CONCLUSIVE AND INCLUSIVE THAN WE WERE FIVE OR 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO AND THAT MAY BE A TREND ACROSS ALL OF SCIENCE, BUT HERE AT SALK WE REALLY BELIEVE IN THAT DAY TODAY AND YOU SEE THAT IN THE TYPE OF NEW FACULTY HIRES WE MAKE .

>> Reporter: HE ASSUMES THE ROLE OF THE SALK INSTITUTE PRESIDENT ON APRIL 1.

>>> THE 2023 SAN DIEGO COUNTY SPELLING BEE CHAMPION HAS JUST BEEN DECLARED.

A SEVENTH GRADER GOT IT BY SPELLING A WORD THAT MEANS FORCIBLE BREATHING OR BLOWING OUT AND HE IS RETURNING CHAMPION.

TOOK THE 53rd ANNUAL COUNTYWIDE SPELLING BEE CAME DOWN TO THESE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

JEB LEE, AN EIGHTH GRADER AND THE ULTIMATE WINNER ON THE LEFT, A SEVENTH GRADER AT MESA VERDE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

LET'S BEGIN WITH HIS NAME.

>> TOOK THIS IS THE SAME DASH MEXICAN YEAR IN A ROW THAT MIHIR HAS BEEN NAMED THE BEST SPELLER IN THE COUNTY AND HE DID IT BY SPELLING THE WORD X INFLATION WHICH MEANS BLOWING OUT AS IN CLEARING THE RESPIRATORY TRACT AND HE COMPETED AGAINST 80 OTHER STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THE RULES DON'T ALLOW US TO BROADCAST THE ACTUAL WORD SPELLED TODAY BUT WE CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE COMPETITORS STUDIED FROM A LIST OF 4000 WORDS AND EACH OF THEM WON THEIR OWN SCHOOL SPELLING BEE TO GET HERE.

>> I BASICALLY TRIED TO READ THROUGH ALL THE WORDS AND THE ONES I THOUGHT WERE WEIRD OR DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE I SEARCH THEM UP.

>> IT IS REALLY HARD WHEN YOU SEE A STUDENT SPELL OUT WHICH IS WHAT WE CALL IT WHEN THEY MISS A WORD.

THERE IS A LOT OF PREPARATION THAT COMES WITH IT AND DISAPPOINTMENT BUT THEY ARE STILL WINNERS.

>> Reporter: THE WINNER WILL REPRESENT SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND THE NATIONAL SPELLING BEE IN LATE MAY SO IT IS VERY MUCH COMPETITION AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING AS WELL.

AN EIGHTH GRADER FROM A CHARTER SCHOOL PUTS IT THIS WAY.

>> IT IS EXTENSIVE VOCABULARY AND IF YOU TALK WITH SOMEBODY THEY SAY WHILE THEY HAVE AN AMAZING VOCABULARY.

>> Reporter: MIHIR IS A SPELLING CHAMPION AND INVENTOR WHO ALSO WRITES CODE.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SET TO MAKE HIS SECOND VISIT TO SAN DIEGO COUNTY AS PRESIDENT.

ON MONDAY HE WILL MEET WITH THE BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER'S HERE IN SAN DIEGO AND THEY ARE EXPECTED TO TALK ABOUT SECURITY ISSUES AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO A FREE AND OPEN INDO-PACIFIC REGION.

HE LAST VISITED HERE IN OCTOBER SPEAKING AT A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY AND LAST MONTH DOCTOR BIDEN MADE A TRIP HERE TO HIGHLIGHT CANCER RESEARCH AND MEET WITH NAVY FAMILIES.

>>> THE ARMY SHELVED ITS 1980s ERA BLU CAN BE SLOGAN IN 2001 OPTING FOR A MILLENNIAL FOCUS, ARMY OF ONE.

WITH THE RECRUITING NUMBERS DOWN, THEY ARE RESURRECTING THEIR CLASSIC CAMPAIGN.

HERE IS OUR MILITARY REPORTER, ANDREW DYER.

>> Reporter: YOU MAY REMEMBER THE ARMIES BLU CAN BE SLOGAN FROM THE 1980s AND 1990s AD CAMPAIGNS.

BUT ON WEDNESDAY THE SERVICE FORMALLY REINTRODUCED IT FOR A NEW GENERATION OF RECRUITS AND THE COMMANDING GENERAL, HE WAS IN SAN DIEGO FOR A JUNIOR ROTC RECRUITING EVENT.

>> BLU CAN BE REPRESENTS THIS FOR ALL OUT THERE AND DEMOGRAPHIC DOESN'T MATTER.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 300 STUDENTS ATTENDED THE ARMY CAREER DAY EVENT WHERE THEY SPOKE WITH SOLDIERS FROM SEVERAL DISCIPLINES.

>> Reporter: SHE IS A NINTH GRADER AND SHE SAID A MILITARY CAREER IS APPEALING TO HER.

>> THE BENEFITS AND HELPING PEOPLE.

TRUCK SHE SAID THE ARMIES VEHICLES WERE HER FAVORITE EVENT.

>> YOU CAN GO INSIDE THEM AND FEEL HOW IT IS.

>> Reporter: THE ARMY FELL SHORT OF ITS RECRUITING GOAL LAST YEAR BY 25% AND THEY POINTED TO THE COMPETITIVE PRIVATE JOB MARKET AS A SOURCE OF COMPETITION.

HE REJECTED THAT SOME DEFENSE DEPARTMENT POLICIES CHARACTERIZED AS WOKE BUT SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IMPACT RECRUITING.

>> WE ARE NOT A WOKE ARMY AND WE ARE CALLED UPON TO FIGHT AND FIGHT HER NATION'S WARS IF NECESSARY AND AN ARMY THAT GIVES ALL OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FOR EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THEY ARE ON TRACK FOR MEETING THEIR GOAL FOR RECRUITING FOR 2023.

>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.