Shakeup at Burlingame Police Department

It is a move that one day may lead to a full merger of the two departments, Nantell said.

Callagy was brought in because he shares the vision of shared services between the two departments, a vision some Burlingame rank-and-file officers do not.

Burlingame police have been working without a contract now for 15 months and the force has been reduced by 25 percent, said Burlingame police Officer Jim Hutchings.

Hutchings is the vice president for the Burlingame Police Officers Association and is the lead negotiator for the department and the city in trying to reach a new contract.

"We have a severe difference of opinion although we are not opposed to consolidation just to oppose it," Hutchings said.

Callagy will replace Acting Police Chief Ed Wood.

Wood has served in the position since December after longtime former Police Chief Jack Van Etten retired. Wood did not return a call for comment.

Callagy's contract is for one year at a cost of just more than $200,000 with an option for extended years. He will technically remain employed by the San Mateo Police Department while the contract is in place and his deputy chief position in San Mateo will not be filled. He is expected to take over in Burlingame toward the end of April.

Nantell has worked closely with San Mateo City Manager Susan Loftus and Police Chief Susan Manheimer to make the move. If Callagy works out in Burlingame, the two departments could merge as early as a year from now, Nantell said.

But Hutchings thinks any potential merger will better benefit San Mateo and is upset by the city manager's lack of communication.

"Our biggest fear as the junior partner is how it will shake out for us," Hutchings said. "The lack of communication has turned us into a reactionary group. Morale is down."

Burlingame faces a $3 million deficit this year and potential cost-savings for the city related to shared services is a key reason Callagy will be hired.

Burlingame is facing an extra $600,000 a year hit for the next three years related to public employee retirement costs, another reason to study shared services, Nantell said.

Nantell also notes the success of the Central County Fire Department, a joint venture between Burlingame and Hillsborough that saves Burlingame about $1.5 million a year, Nantell said. Eventually, Central County may seek out partnerships with both Millbrae and San Bruno, Nantell said.

Initially, the two departments will concentrate on sharing dispatch services while Callagy is interim chief.

"The city has cut nine positions already from the police department. We are looking at taking the cost out of the administrative level and not from officers involved in direct delivery of services," Nantell said.

If, however, Burlingame does not realize at least a $500,000 savings a year with a merger, it is likely the two departments will not merge, Nantell said.

The two cities will hire a consultant to help crunch the numbers and provide an objective analysis of potential cost savings.

"Shared expenses must show significant savings," Nantell said.

Nantell, however, realizes most officers in the department might be reluctant to a move toward shared services.

"If they had their druthers, they would rather be independent," Nantell said.

Callagy, 48, is married with four children and lives in Foster City. He has been a police officer for 25 years and has a law degree. He graduated from Serra High School in 1980 and attended the College of Notre Dame where he played on the basketball team for four years. He has two master's degrees and is currently working on a third through a Department of Homeland Security program.

Callagy would have taken over for Manheimer had she taken a job as San Francisco's police chief.

San Mateo too has lost considerable police staff through budget corrections the past few years but also has a new state-of-the-art headquarters built for expansion. It's dispatch center, for instance, also currently takes calls from Brisbane. Burlingame had held previous discussions with other cities to share police services, but did not pursue them. Other cities, including San Carlos, are investigating either shared services, mergers or contracting out of police services as a way to make up budget shortfalls. Just last week, Millbrae and San Bruno also approved sharing police services at least temporarily while a study is conducted on current services and realistic changes for shared services. In the meantime, the two cities will share a police chief.

In San Mateo, the interest is also clear.

"It's important for us to take these steps and do our due diligence when our police departments have faced continual budget cuts and service limitations. If there's a possibility to enhance our resources and capability to control crime and add to the quality of life in our communities through shared services while not compromising levels or quality of service, than we need to explore these options," Manheimer said.

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.