San Mateo police seek to fill staffing gaps

But according to a recent analysis presented at the City Council meeting Tuesday, Sept. 3, the department still faces staffing shortages, especially related to patrol duties. While the agency technically has an adequate number of officers, the gap between an employee departure and a new hire coming on board presents challenges, Police Chief Ed Barberini said. While there are technically 58 patrol officers on duty, about nine are in some sort of academy or training program.

“We are fully staffed as a police department when it comes to sworn police officers, but that’s kind of a misnomer,” Barberini said. “In reality, if you are a police officer now working in the street, you don’t realize that because it takes a while for us to catch up.”

John Carli, police services specialist with the consultant Citygate Associates, added that, even when the remaining officers complete training, there are always instances when the agency is below the ideal number of patrol officers.

“There could be injuries, you could have some turnover, retirements,” Carli said. “You’re always chasing that number.”

The report also outlined the need for more support for forensic crime technicians, media relations and administrative duties. Carli noted that, despite the current financial backing of the city’s homeless outreach programs and community service officers, a plan for long-term funding should be evaluated sooner than later.

“We are aware that the use of community service officers are in use here, and they are very effective in modern policing today. The only recommendation is, because they’re effective and you have them and you have funded them through a grant, that grant at some point will run out,” Carli said. “The recommendation is to ensure there is a sustainability of a very effective tool for the community service officer when that grant does run out.”

Barberini said the department is in a relatively stable position, but reshuffling and hiring more staff, such as buffer positions, would allow for better police time responses and proactive engagement. He added the most difficult job to recruit for at the moment involves dispatcher roles.

During fiscal year 2023-24 — which ended June 30 — the police budget comprises about 42% of the city’s general fund, or about $58 million. It also has about 170 full-time employees, which is almost 30% of the city’s total full-time staff.