Another legacy of former city manager David Boesch and his hiree, police chief Boyd. Boesch couldn't seem to figure out the connection between a hyper-gear resignation rate and rock-bottom morale, which the police chief was largely responsibility for. Now, both these guys are gone and the city continues to pay. We're probably paying in more ways than financially, given the low number of experienced cops on the force.

Area city managers, police chiefs, politicians, just like school and zoo superintendants, recycle and reuse, they seem to regenerate with commensurate pay upgrades with the close knit head hunters pushing their "experience" on councils/supervisors/voters.
They wouldn't last one month in the private sector where performance standards demand a produce or perish paradigm.
BTW, Boesch will be running the entire county soon. Expect massive tax increases to pay the bloated administration under the guise of "parity with the private sector".

I saw those numbers. Where do they keep the application forms? I’m getting my tough-guy resume in shape. I’m not too crazy about the uniforms, but for that kind of money, I’ll wear anything. I have lots of experience with law enforcement, especially behind the wheel. They didn’t say the starting salary but how bad could it be?

For petes sake.. how many police does a city of Menlo Park need?

6?

If you want to know how Menlo Park officers spend their time, check out the daily police log of written reports:
Web Link

The overtime paid out occurred in 2007(NOT 2006 or 2005)...long after ANY previous administrators were there. Clearly, people are still leaving to other agencies. Just taking on the dispatch services for the city of San Carlos was a disaster! Dispatchers leaving and no one to fill the vacancies. That was a poor move on Chief Goittia. Quit looking to the past to blame everything on and look at what is going on in the here and now! Overtime will always be a part of doing business. Clearly there are significant problems in the current administration to allow this reckless spending.

To Just me: have you been east of 101 lately? Not good. Just 6 cops over there is not enough. You do not know what you are talking about!

Would you rather pay overtime or more employees and pensions. Overtime is cheaper than hiring. Posters will complain either way...

I was at the Starbucks on Marsh Road a few months ago around 8:30am , and there were 5, count 'em, 5 Menlo Park Policemen there taking a break..at the same time! They may not be east of the 101, but I live in West Menlo, and I rarely see a patrol car, no matter the time of day or night. I do however see lots of people going at least 40 on Santa Cruz Avenue, and that makes me mad!

Hmmm...just read the article...that is a LOT of money... I retract my last statement :-)
Has to be a happy medium.

To Oh No....So what how many you saw...you don't know whether it was a overlapping shift or what!! Quit judging...be happy you were in a place that was not gonna get robbed! Relax...cops need a break too...that is why they have portable radios and pagers...give em a break...they deserve just that...walk a mile in their shoes...I have.I am retired law enforcement...I still see the horrors of of every thing I saw every time I close my eyes....appreciate what they do every day...it is not what they do every day...it is what they might have to do... think about that...

The reason why so many left was for a variety of reasons. Some wanted to work for bigger agencies, others simply retired. The main reason was a lack of parity in salary. The City had fallen way below the industry average as far as salary and benefits. Menlo Park was paid even less the the lowest paid East Palo Alto PD. That is the plain and simple reason...money. Now that the City has given them a decent raise and a guarentee of parity for the future, things will stabilize as they always do. This is very typical.

Most people don't change jobs just for the money. There were terrible morale problems that I hope are fixed now, and these don't relate to money.
Menlo Park can't get into a bidding war with other jurisdictions, and should not cave on lots of contractual adders that seemingly cost little but add up to a lot over time, especially if they are added to the retirement base. Things are getting out of hand relative to the private sector where it's nearly impossible to get such rich retirement and to be able to double dip at a young age. This must be addressed.

It's comforting to know that when I reach retirement age, long after Social Security has been exhausted and geriatric bands of desperate homeless people roam the streets, all of us who toiled in the private sector will be able to beg for scraps from retired public servants.

I don't begrudge the cops a decent retirement. I just wish I was cut out for that line of work so I could enjoy a relaxing old age, too.

The rape of the taxpayer continues apace, aided by weak and self-interested politicians.

"The City had fallen way below the industry average as far as salary and benefits. Menlo Park was paid even less the the lowest paid East Palo Alto PD"

I would expect that EPA police would earn higher salaries than our officers. They face real danger in EPA!

You people sit in your McMansions and bellow on and on about free markets and taxes...you are the very same people who cower in the corner in times of need. You are vulnerable people Menlo Parkians...lily white with little real world experience, soft around the edges and loaded with money.

Without the police, you are what they call "easy prey"...

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?