Posted by Much ado about nothing, a resident of the Atherton: Lloyden Park neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 2:29 pm

Where is the controversy? The city manager has figured out that without making sure our police officers have a competitive, living wage, they will leave, and wind up costing Atherton much more than simply getting the correct compensation increase put into place for the contract negotiations. This is addressing taxpayer concerns since it will costs taxpayers more to adopt a nicke and dime strategy.

Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 5:34 pm

Much:

are you really that clueless? All of the departments in the bay area have cut wages, benefits and officers. Just where do you think these officers are going to go?

You've got two types of officers in Atherton. Those that are young and ambitious that never had any intention of staying in Atherton. They used it as an opportunity to get a police job so they could lateral into another department. They don't care if the pay is less as they will be out of Atherton and be able to move up later. The rest are lazy or inept and have no intention of going anywhere else.

I can pretty much guarantee you, for what Atherton officers are asked to do, you could hire people at half the pay they're getting now.

I worked for a large municipal police department and I can tell you what Atherton officers face, day to day, isn't even close. How many doors do they go through that they don't know what's waiting on the other side? Hint: there probaly aren't too many drug dealers or gang bangers in Atherton. How many felons do they arrest? Hint: judging by the last posting of one of their officers, none, last month. I was doing three a week in a four day work week.

Sorry Much, but you could get far better service at lower cost by contracting with the Sheriff's department and hiring private security to take care of the non-police nonsense you ask your officers to do, like taking in mail, watering your lawns, etc.

Posted by Police supporter, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 11:07 pm

Menlo Voter is just plain wrong. The PAC website disproves the myth that working at Atherton PD is not dangerous. There's a video of an officer nearly getting killed in a traffic stop. Atherton is unique in that there can be a large-scale emergency at any time requiring only the best police officers.

Posted by memory lane, a resident of the Atherton: other neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2013 at 8:25 am

Much to do about Nothing states:

The city manager has figured out that without making sure our police officers have a competitive, living wage, they will leave, and wind up costing Atherton much more than simply getting the correct compensation increase put into place for the contract negotiations. This is addressing taxpayer concerns since it will costs taxpayers more to adopt a nickel and dime strategy.

A look into the past.......

Issue date: April 12, 2000

Atherton loses veteran police officer **Lieutenant leaves; captain may follow. Both got layoff notices.

By Anne H. Kim

Almanac Staff Writer

A top-ranking Atherton police officer said a lay-off notice helped make him decide to leave the department for good, and the department's second-in-command may soon follow. Both received layoff notices last week.

The notices are part of a reoganization that will cut department positions by nearly a third -- from 25 officers and managers to 18.

Veteran Lieutenant Pat McTaggart, 36, responded to his layoff notice with a resignation, effective last Friday. After 19 years, including years as a cadet, in Atherton, he has accepted an offer with the Sheriff's Office and is scheduled to be sworn in at 9 a.m. Friday, April 14, said Lieutenant Don Leed with the Sheriff's Office.

"I'm 100 percent elated," said Lt. McTaggart. "The Sheriff's Office has always treated me wonderfully and I have the utmost respect for the people up there. I'm very happy to be a part of that organization."

Atherton's Captain Steve Chaput, who just celebrated his 50th birthday and also received a layoff notice last week, said that he, too, has applied at the Sheriff's Office and may learn whether he'll get the job by mid-May. Capt. Chaput has been with Atherton police for 27 years, he said.

The layoff notices were effective July 1, said Interim Police Chief Brown Taylor. The notices follow a proposal by Mr. Taylor and Interim City Manager Ralph Freedman to save about $600,000 from the department through a reorganization plan that includes cutting the two positions.

"It's not like it's a total shock," said Capt. Chaput. "I guess in one respect, to finally have it (layoff notice) in print brings a little bit of closure to it and gives me a little better idea of what I'm going to have to do from this point on."

Capt. Chaput also said he was interested in Atherton's police chief position, but has not yet turned in a resume. He has until April 21.

The department is under pressure to cut costs since a parcel tax measure, which provides a quarter of the town's revenue, failed twice -- last November and this March. However, Chief Taylor said he would recommend the reorganization and cost-cutting even if the tax had passed. The bulk of the town's $6.2 million budget -- 55 percent -- has gone to run the police department.

Chief Taylor said Lt. McTaggart's departure will "leave a void in this organization," and added that his decision to layoff the two managers was not a matter of personal performance.

Under his organizational study, which is set to be finalized in the next few weeks, Chief Taylor said having four managers for a department as small as Atherton's was too many.

Without Lt. McTaggart and Capt. Chaput, the department would be run by the chief and Lt. Glenn Nielsen, who is the senior lieutenant.

Chief Taylor is also recommending that the department not fill five positions -- three traffic officers, a school resource officer and one investigator. Those officers have recently left for other jobs or are in the process of leaving, said Chief Taylor. The cuts and vacant positions would leave a force of 18 officers in the patrol and investigations units, down from 25. Other leave-takings

In addition to Mr. McTaggart's leaving and Mr. Chaput's pending layoff, the department has recently lost Teresa Bartlett, the executive assistant to the police chief. That position will also be closed out, said Chief Taylor.

At town hall, Marti Brown on Wednesday turned in her resignation after about five years as the city manager's assistant where she earned about $52,700 a year, said Interim City Manager Ralph Freedman. Her last day is April 19, after which she may take a position with the Stanford Alumni Association, Mr. Freedman said.

Ms. Brown did not return phone calls last week.

Mr. Freedman said he's not sure what he will do with Ms. Brown's position. He may hire one assistant to work for both the city manager and police chief's offices.

Posted by memory lane, a resident of the Atherton: other neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2013 at 8:33 am

Alook at the job market for police officers and other public safety employees from this article about hiring in the bat area. The Town of Atherton will have to compete in the marketplace.

Web Link

Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2013 at 8:33 am

Police Supporter:

you could have those "best police officers" to respond to your unlikely big emergency at half the cost by contracting with the Sheriff's department. You could then contract with a private security company for the stupid, non-police activities you currently have your officers doing.

Posted by Election purchased, a resident of the Atherton: other neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2013 at 8:41 am

What a farce. What a bunch of lies. Former chief Bob Brennan used to tell officers who complained about picking up someone's paper would they rather be dealing with a gang banger in EPA.

Posted by Elections count, a resident of the Atherton: other neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2013 at 2:26 pm

Elections count. In the past election, the voters in Atherton overwhelmingly decided they want to stop the McKeithen style of politics, and bring back the respect to the Atherton police officers that they deserve. More than 97% of residents feel this way according to survey.

Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2013 at 3:17 pm

Electiosn count:

you are refering to an old survey the content of which is suspect.

Posted by memory lane, a resident of the Atherton: other neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2013 at 4:21 pm

Godbe Associates does virtually all the public entity public surveys in the Bay Area.

From the October 2006 Atherton Town Council Meeting:

PRESENTATION

CONSIDERATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE ATHERTON POLICE

DEPARTMENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY GODBE ASSOCIATES

City Manager Jim Robinson presented a brief introduction regarding the Atherton Police Department survey and introduced Brian Godbe and Brian Murray of Godbe Associates. Mr. Murray summarized a PowerPoint presentation regarding the survey.

The overall outcome of the survey indicated that 97 percent of Atherton residents were satisfied with the quality of life in Atherton and that 97 percent of residents were satisfied with the performance of the Atherton Police Department. Mr. Godbe and Mr. Murray responded to questions.

Police Lieutenant Glenn Nielsen read a letter into the record from Police Chief Bob Brennan. Chief Brennan thanked everyone for his/her support which was reflected in the results of the survey. As the Police Chief, he received compliments on the changes brought about in the Police Department during the six years of his administration.

However, he believed the members of the Police Department had embraced the message and delivered the services that brought the 97 percent survey results.

Posted by memory lane, a resident of the Atherton: other neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2013 at 4:33 pm

County Almanac story on the results of the survey. See page 20.

Web Link

Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on Mar 7, 2013 at 5:19 pm

a survey from 2006. That was before an officer falsified a report and falsely arrested a citizen. And before all of the other recent shenanigans by the APD also I think. It would be interesting to see what a survey regarding APD would show NOW.