Posted by Bob, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 3, 2012 at 10:59 pm

With the police chief staying in the job an average of 5 years, maybe this would be a good time to think of other options besides hiring a new chief. In the last 20 years MP has had at least 5 chiefs. The last one was on the job less than 2 years.

While this is not unique to MP, there is a cost associated with every new search. Additionally, do we really need so many police chiefs in our county?

Posted by Joanna, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 4, 2012 at 7:53 pm

It would be nice if MP would outsource the police force.

Posted by reality, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Aug 4, 2012 at 11:25 pm

Joanna, you and Hank should take a look at the county budget. Outsourcing police to the Sheriff's is not a sustainable solution.

Posted by Disagree, a resident of another community, on Aug 5, 2012 at 8:18 am

That is not what Half Moon Bay, San Carlos, and Millbrae are saying. What do you mean by sustainable anyway? Look at the money saved by these formerly struggling cities, the high level of service they say they are getting, and how happy (at least in the press) the cities are with the Sheriff. If it is not what MP wants that is fine, but enough with the phoney sustainability arguments already. It would be a contract city paying for services which benefits MP and SMC. MP could pay for as much or as little as they wanted. Or they can keep their PD if that is what the city wants.

Posted by davidcouper, a resident of another community, on Aug 5, 2012 at 1:34 pm

Now might be a good time to re-think what you need in Menlo regarding policing. For insight and direction, take a look at my new book and visit my blog, “Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off About Protest, Racism, Corruption and the Seven Steps Necessary to Improve Our Nation’s Police” (Amazon.com). My blog is at Web Link where I discuss these and other current police improvement issues. Good luck and may we all experience not just good but great policing!

Posted by Bob, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 5, 2012 at 6:01 pm

It's worth exploring all options including the Sheriff's Department or collaborating with another agency. In today's economy it makes sense to carefully consider all possibilities. With so many duplicated services (administration and dispatch just to name a few) throughout the county that are costing thousands of dollars, why is this such a difficult step for our officials?

Posted by Uncommon Sense, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Aug 6, 2012 at 12:42 pm

Since we are all about saving money... why is Menlo Park even going outside the organzation to pay for an interim Chief? Why not have Commander Burt fill the slot until a new chief is named? Surely paying the little extra for her is cheaper than $90/hour!! Have a little sense, please!

Posted by Peter Carpenter, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Aug 6, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Peter Carpenter is a member (registered user) of Almanac Online

Agencies which have their own Police Department:

Atherton

As of the census of 2000, there were

7,194 people

4.9 square miles (12.8 km˛)

Police budget $4.9 M

$681 per capita

Redwood City

As of the census[1] of 2008, there were

75,508 people

34.6 sq miles

Police budget $31.7 M

$419 per capita

Palo Alto

As of the census of 2000, there were 58,598

people

23.7 sq miles

Police budget $29M

$494 per capita

Foster City

As of the census of 2000, there are 28,803

people

The city has a total area of 19.9 square

miles (51.6 km˛), of which 3.8 square miles

(9.7 km˛) is land and 16.2 square miles

(41.9 km˛) is water.

Police budget $9.6 M

$333 per capita

Burlingame

As of the census of 2000, there were 28,158

people

The city has a total area of 15.6 km˛ (6.0 mi˛).

11.2 km˛ (4.3 mi˛) of it is land and 4.4 km˛

(1.7 mi˛) of it (28.19%) is water.

Police budget $9.5M

$337 per capita

Hillsborough

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were

10,825 people

The town has a total area of 6.2 square miles

(16.1 km˛), all of it land.

Police budget $8M

$739 per capita

Los Altos

The population was 27,693 according to the

2000 census.

6.3 square miles (16.4 km˛).

Police dept budget $13.46 M

$485 per capita

Menlo Park

As of the census of 2000, there were 30,785

people

17.4 square miles (45 km2), of which

10.1 square miles (26 km2) is land

and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) is water. Police services budget $14.69 M

$477.148 per capita

East Palo Alto

As of the census of 2009, there were 35,791 people,

2.6 square miles (6.7 km˛), of which 2.5 square miles (6.6 km˛) are land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km˛) of it (0.78%) are water.

Police budget $10,262,651

$287 per capita

Agencies which contract out their police services:

Saratoga

The population was 30,318 at the 2007 census.

The city has a total area of 21.1 square miles

(31.4 km˛)

Police costs via County Sheriff $4.34 M

$143 per capita

Woodside

11.8 square miles (30.5 km˛)

As of the census of 2000, there were

5,352 people

Police services via County Sheriff $1.3 M

$242 per capita

new contract 2012/13

The Woodside Town Council approved a budget that included ■ Sheriff's contract: A council majority approved a three-year $1.45 million law enforcement contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Unlike the annual jumps of 10 percent in previous contracts, this one rises by 4 percent for the first year and 3 percent after that.

The population of Woodside is 5287 as of the 2010 census or a cost of $274 per capita.

Portola Valley

The population was 4,462 at the 2000 census

9.2 square miles (23.7 km˛)

Police services via Sheriff $498,601

$111 per capita

San Carlos

The population was 27.238 in 2008

5.93 square miles

Police services via proposed Sheriff's contract

$6.8 M

$248.62 per capita


Posted by Jack, a resident of the Atherton: West of Alameda neighborhood, on Aug 6, 2012 at 3:58 pm

Why not let Cmdr Burt take the helm, since she is retiring at the end of this year & save the $18k ? Since she is the senior Cmdr, it would be a natural progression for her and a great

send off for her career !! HELL-O..

Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Aug 6, 2012 at 7:25 pm

Jack:

it would also spike her pay just prior to retirement thus resulting in a higher retirement payout. Save $18k and spend what instead? Hundreds of thoudands over the life of her retirement? HELL-O?