Two more cops resign from Menlo Park police department Two more cops resign from Menlo Park police department (August 03, 2005)

By Renee Batti

Almanac News Editor

Two more Menlo Park police officers turned in their resignations last week, bringing the total of mostly senior officers resigning this year to seven.

The pending departure of officers Glenn Raggio and Ken Clayton, who have signed on with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, deepens concerns of some in the community that the police department is losing a troubling degree of experience -- considered a valuable asset in the world of law enforcement.

Although one experienced member of the force, Cmdr. Greg Rothaus, left the department for greener pastures -- he's now chief of the San Carlos police department -- the others left for lower-ranked or lateral positions, often with less pay.

Earlier this year, detective Alex Bouja and sergeants Eric Cowans and Paul Kunkel left for jobs as non-ranking deputies with the Sheriff's Office. Officer Terry Bolden left for a job with the Fairfield police department, according to a Menlo Park police officer who worked with Officer Bolden.

The police officer, who asked not to be identified, said at least four other officers have applied for jobs elsewhere, and that morale in the department, headed since May 2002 by Chief Chris Boyd, is extremely low. Chief Boyd was not available for comment for this story.

Seven resignations in seven months represent a dramatic increase in the resignation rate: Figures provided by the city's personnel office show that in 2000, there were no resignations; in 2001, three resignations; in 2002, four resignations; in 2003, three resignations; and in 2004, two resignations. The department has 50 sworn officers.

City Councilwoman Kelly Fergusson said she's concerned that the department is losing so much experience, and noted that the Menlo Park police force "has always had the reputation that no one leaves."

She acknowledged that "making up for the loss of veteran (officers) will be an enormous challenge," but she said that after meeting with Chief Boyd and City Manager David Boesch in June to talk about her concerns, she is somewhat less anxious about the situation.

"They assured me they can make up for the lack of experience with other means, such as increased training," she said. "They're good managers, and I trust them."

Police Cmdr. Terri Molakides, who is acting chief while Chief Boyd is away, said that the department has been successful finding replacements for those who have resigned, including some officers with experience.

In addition to the seven resignations, there have been two retirements and one firing -- bringing the number of officers leaving so far this year to 10. Cmdr. Molakides said last week's resignations were expected, and that the department has already hired 10 officers since the beginning of the year.

The new hires include: four officers with 10 or more years of experience, with the most seasoned having 13 years; two with five to nine years of experience; and four new police academy graduates.

Mr. Boesch said that he's not concerned by the number of resignations, noting that recruitment has gone well. He also dismissed the claim that morale is a problem in the department.

The high number of resignations, he acknowledged, "is a bit unusual," but, he added, "there are a variety of factors that go into those (kinds of) personal decisions."

Mayor Mickie Winkler said she hasn't heard any concerns expressed by the community about the series of resignations.

Asked if she's worried about the unusual number of officers leaving the department to work elsewhere, she said: "I spoke to (Chief) Boyd about it and he has indicated that there is basically no problem in the police department. I am absolutely sure that if there were, he would tell us about it."

In June, former sergeants Cowans and Kunkel filed a claim against City Manager Boesch after Mr. Boesch was quoted in a local newspaper as saying that at least one of the two men had been "a low performer and was likely to be demoted."

The former sergeants demanded a public apology from the city in the form of an ad taken out in the newspaper in which Mr. Boesch was quoted, the Palo Alto Daily News.

The city has not complied.

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