After learning about the killing of five Dallas police officers, Chief Deanna Cantrell sat down and made a video. She spoke to her fellow officers, thanking them for their commitment, acknowledging their struggles and asking them to continue serving without judgment or discrimination.

Widely-shared, the video gave insight into the SLO police chief’s love of community and her officers, and how impassioned she is about law enforcement.

The Mesa, Ariz. transplant, and recent Rotary Club of SLO Chili Cook Off Champion, sat down and talked with the SLO Chamber about what power she would harness as a superhero, why yelling “stop, in the name of the law” wouldn’t actually work and her motivation behind the video.

We will be the change we want to see in the world, and that is through fundamental fairness, impartiality, devotion, honesty and building trusting relationships with all the people we serve. – Chief Deanna Cantrell

What is your most marked characteristic?
I asked several friends their opinion on this and I got two distinct answers…determination and confidence. I like both and think the former builds the latter.

Who is your favorite fictional hero?
I thought about this from the perspective of what talents I would want if I were a superhero and I decided my favorite talent is the ability possessed by Jean Grey (Phoenix) in X-Men. She is telepathic, and telekinetic. I would love to be able to know what others are thinking and understand their motives, then be able to change bad decisions and behavior. I think this is more powerful than any strength possessed by other superheroes because nothing could surprise you or catch you off guard…I don’t like surprises.

What is your perfect Sunday?
Sleeping in, walking the dogs on the beach, eating a great breakfast that involves green chili, playing a great round of golf, eating a great lunch that involves green chili, taking a nap, playing my guitar and having a few friends over for dinner…that yes, involves green chili.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I really do have my dream job and have loved it since I started in 1994. I can’t imagine doing anything else, and I certainly can’t imagine anything else keeping me engaged, involved and enthusiastic after all of these years (very short attention span) like law enforcement has. I would like to do a little teaching and public speaking after retirement.

When was the first time you yelled “Stop, in the name of the law,” and how awesome was it?
That is a funny statement that sounds good in the movies, but sorry to burst your bubble, real cops don’t actually say that. Secondly, it implies that someone is running from you and the reality is, people don’t typically stop when you ask them to. If that worked, I would use it all the time even when people were eating too fast or chewing their nails.

It’s 113 degrees right now in Mesa.
Bummer for all of my old friends suffering in the blistering dry heat, especially when I am still wearing a sweater everywhere.

Following the tragedy in Dallas which saw five police officers killed in the line of duty, you put out a heartfelt video addressing your officers. What was your inspiration behind the video?
The Dallas tragedy affected me profoundly. I love the profession, I love the men and women who nobly serve in the profession, I love the community that we serve and I know how 99 percent of law enforcement officers serve with incredible courage and integrity. I also understand what the majority of the Black Lives Matter movement are fighting for, which involves shedding light on years of institutional racism and injustices. I also know the leaders in the movement deplore the acts that took place in Dallas and Baton Rouge as much as leaders in law enforcement deplore officers that act in a way that tarnishes our profession. Violence is not the answer. What I don’t want is to see the divide between communities widened. My message to the police department was to thank them for their commitment and to acknowledge the difficulties they face daily in being everything, to everyone. I asked them to continue serving in the same devoted fashion they always have and not to judge any community with a broad brush because that only leads to stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, all things we in policing have been subjected to. We will be the change we want to see in the world, and that is through fundamental fairness, impartiality, devotion, honesty and building trusting relationships with all the people we serve.