The Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department continues to grapple with chronic understaffing despite a record number of new hires in 2024. Police Chief Jamie Field highlighted the department's commitment to addressing the staffing shortage through recruitment, transition planning, and maintaining operational efficiency.
Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Chief Jamie Field addressed the department's annual Police Recognition Luncheon last October, acknowledging the tireless efforts of staff who consistently put in thousands of overtime hours to compensate for the department's persistent understaffing.
Field's January 21st report to the Los Gatos Town Council revealed a concerning reality: only 27 sworn officers remained active in the department during the latter half of 2024, significantly below the budgeted 39 positions. This chronic understaffing has plagued the department since 2018, the last year it reached its full complement of officers.Despite the ongoing challenges, Chief Field emphasized the department's commitment to address the staffing shortage through a multifaceted approach. In his presentation of the department's first annual operational report to the town council in 2025, Field highlighted key objectives: bolstering efficiency, enhancing emergency preparedness, and actively pursuing recruitment and promotion initiatives. Recognizing the imminent wave of retirements, Field underlined the department's dedication to transition planning, ensuring the preservation of crucial institutional knowledge and expertise within the ranks.The department's efforts to fill vacant positions have yielded positive results, albeit with ongoing hurdles. While the department hired more sworn officers in 2024 than any other year in its history, the number of active personnel remains significantly below the authorized capacity. A silver lining emerged with the full staffing of the dispatch team for the first time in over five years. The recent addition of an eighth dispatcher marked a significant milestone, ensuring uninterrupted communication and response capabilities. Sergeant Katherine Mann attributed the department's recent success in recruitment to the comprehensive hiring process and the dedication of the staff. She acknowledged the ongoing challenges, pointing to the seven officers who retired, three who transitioned to other law enforcement agencies, and two who left law enforcement altogether in 2024.The department's commitment to maintaining public safety is evident in the officers' dedication, despite the strain of chronic understaffing. The 905 additional overtime hours logged from July to December 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 illustrate the extent to which officers regularly go above and beyond their regular duties to ensure the safety and well-being of the community
POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING SHORTAGE RECRUITMENT LOS GATOS MONTE SERENO UNDERSTAFFING CALIFORNIA
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