I don’t typically respond to columns, guest perspectives, letters to the editor or online comments. I usually allow for the discourse to run its course. But I feel compelled to add my own insight about a recent letter regarding former San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer that I believe was unfair.
It started when columnist John Horgan mentioned that Manheimer could be a good candidate for an interim appointment as sheriff if the current process to remove the current one proceeds. Jim Lawrence, the chair of Fixin’ San Mateo County, a group formed to lobby for more oversight of the Sheriff’s Office, wrote a letter to say such an appointment would be a disservice to the people of San Mateo County because of the crimes committed by a San Mateo police officer when she was chief.
While the crimes committed by Noah Winchester were horrific, those crimes were his alone. Winchester was convicted in 2019 of sexually assaulting multiple women between 2013 and 2015 and was sentenced to more than 80 years in prison. The city of San Mateo paid a $25 million settlement to the victims, which wasn’t an admission of guilt but could seem that way. His crimes were a tragedy, for the victims and the city. They also likely changed the course of events here in San Mateo County because they happened right when Manheimer was thinking about running for sheriff. If she had run and won, she may have been able to implement new policies for the Sheriff’s Office that could have prevented the circumstances of today.
I respect Lawrence, and the work he is trying to do. Eyes on law enforcement, especially after a series of Taser deaths in this county, can only be considered a good thing. His letter spoke truth but arrived at the wrong conclusion. The Winchester hire was a terrible mistake, but it should not define Manheimer’s tenure.
Manheimer had tremendous organizational and political skill in creating a responsive and responsible police department for today’s era. The San Mateo Police Department has long been a model for other departments in its ability to communicate effectively with the press and the public on important topics and day-to-day issues that affect the people it protects and serves. Manheimer also understood the psychological nuance of standoff situations and directed officers to take a more holistic approach in certain circumstances earlier than other departments.
Manheimer believed in open communication and current Police Chief Ed Barberini, who has led the department in the last five years, has done a good job of continuing that legacy. Because of that, it is of no surprise his name has also been mentioned in the discussion for the temporary sheriff assignment.
The department has long had communicative and responsive public information officers and took it to the next level through a series of “real talk” events to address new concerns from use of force and bias to the latest scams or e-bikes.
Other departments, indeed all areas of government, should follow the lead of the San Mateo Police Department with its proactive and open approach.
The tragic Winchester mistake should never be ignored, but an entire department, or the reputation of its then chief, should not be painted in the same light as a criminal with evil intent.
I didn’t intend to write this column today, and I didn’t ever intend to write about Manheimer in this way either. In fact, she may be a bit surprised to have a newspaper editor write such a piece after a letter to the editor and another column both about her and a job in which she might not even be interested. But considering her ability to organize departments, work with a wide variety of people, engage with many to make progress, and to act as a caretaker as she did in Oakland and San Bruno, she just might be the perfect person to be our next sheriff once the current saga concludes. And if she isn’t thinking about it, she might be now.
And I’ll tell you a story I haven’t told anyone about Manheimer. Early on, when the Daily Journal’s offices were on B Street, there was girl who hung around the streets who I thought was getting into trouble with drugs or worse. From our second-floor office window, I once saw Manheimer drive by, see the girl, pull up, get out and proceed to talk to her for more than an hour. As the girl wiped away tears, Manheimer consoled her. You could tell she had gotten through to her — as Manheimer got back in her car, the girl gave a wave, mouthed thank you, and smiled. I never saw her on the street again.
(13) comments
Alright we have plenty of character witnesses who seem to like former San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer - so we know she was great with the rich and established in San Mateo. But maybe it would help to look on some less biased Key Performance Indicators to bring the community back together.
The job of a police chief is to 'Serve and Protect' and we usually assume they mean 'protect the weak and vulnerable'. Fortunately San Mateo has the perfect project to measure her professionalism.
San Mateo likes bragging that they are the first "Vision Zero" city in the Bay Area (I believe 2015). Vision Zero is all about protecting the vulnerable and I would add especially our children. The methodology requires close relationships between the Transportation Department ("Engineering" and "Evaluation"), the Chief of Police ("Enforcement", "Evaluation", "Education"), and schools ("Education").
If everything works according to plan and methodology AND if San Mateo employees solid professionals , San Mateo should have the strongest Safe-Routes-To-School project in the county. Which would also lead to strong schools and better education.
So the question is:
- Has the city reached Vision Zero?
- Has safety even just slightly improved since 2015?
- Has San Mateo the strongest Safe-Routes-To-School project?
- Are San Mateo's schools better than county average?
- Are city council members, police officers and the public better "educated" now?
The fact that the San Mateo City council just voted to REMOVE Safe-Routes-To-School bike lanes would tell us the project is a complete failure. Which puts the "Buck Stops Here" sign also right at the front door of Sue Manheimer and her legacy. She either doesn't believe in protecting the weak or she didn't have the professional skills to put things in place.
I let the community answer these questions and judge her mettle to see things through.
Hello, Jon
Great column. Thanks for setting the record straight.
Jim Lawrences’s LTE was described as a “hit piece” by another reader. It was. In his LTE, he claimed there was documented evidence that disqualified Susan Manheimer from assuming the duties of interim sheriff. He offered none. In my rebuttal to the LTE, I asked for such documentation… crickets. It appears Jim Lawrence has a bone to pick with Susan Manheimer, and that’s OK. However, he cannot substitute his feelings for facts.
My DJ subscription expires in about a week. Due in part to commentary like Jim Lawrence’s LTE, I will not renew my subscription. I will, however, remain an avid DJ reader. My morning habit of picking up a paper copy of the DJ will not change. The DJ goes well with a morning cup of coffee.
I’ll miss some of my compatriots’ insight but not the caterwauling of others. So… Adieu, Mon Frère.
Go Dodgers!
Wrong reason to give up a subscription, in my opinion.
I'm just turning away from the comments section... I'll continue to read the DJ and contribute monetarily. Check your email.
Very nice article. Enjoyed the ending, girl on street story.
I don't know Jim Lawrence but I do know Susan Manheimer. Manheimer changed the culture of the San Mateo police department. Community involvement, community outreach was her mantra. And the community loved her. Most important her fellow police officers liked her and respected her. There were cheers when she was selected. She was here, there, everywhere. She led the way for more women police officers. She did consider running for Sheriff but her mother became ill and family was always a priority. She would be an outstanding sheriff. We better hire her before some other smarter entity does. sue lempert
Jim Lawrence is a former Foster City Planning Commissioner who was elected to the City Council in Nov 1995 and served as Mayor that year. He also served as Chair of the San Mateo County District Lines Advisory Commission. He continues to be very active in the community, particularly on issues related to racial and economic justice. He's currently on the Board of Fixin' San Mateo County.
https://fixinsmc.org/people/jim-lawrence/
Thanks for sharing this, Seema. Jim is also one of the classiest people I know. He is one of the few political types that wants to hear people out who hold different values and positions. I know because I don't agree with him on everything, and that's good. We can't come up with the best solutions if we all agree with one another 100% of the time.
So, pheebkat, Mr. Lawrence authoring a “hit piece” on Susan Manheimer is considered classy? It doesn’t sound to me like Mr. Lawrence wants to hear people who hold different values and positions but I’ll let people make up their own mind, as well as whether they agree with your definition of classy. I don’t. In fact I’d say it’s closer to the opposite end of the spectrum.
Good morning, Terence
"Classy" may be in the eye of the beholder, but it appears James' LTE gives us an idea what Fixin' San Mateo County is really all about.
Sue, I think there are a couple years during which you and Jim were both serving on the councils of your respective cities. Also, you don't have to sign your name as it appears above next to the timestamp of your comment. Take care!
Sue's support for Jon's op-ed about Susan Mannheimer caps the issue for me. She knows what she's talking about.
In Agreement with Jon’s Opinion Article
I have known Chief Manheimer for 25 of her 45 years in office. She is a good friend, and I was struck by the ugliness of Mr. Lawrence’s article. Perhaps Mr. Lawrence is unaware of Chief Manheimer’s distinguished 45-year career in five Bay Area Police agencies, where she has consistently demonstrated noble servant leadership. She was the only Chief to retain her position under Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, working closely with the Police Commission and various oversight groups during challenging times. The last two Chiefs in Oakland lasted only one year before they were fired. Chief Manheimer was in Oakland as interim Chief for 18 months and served with distinction. She was able to work with the community and the City Council.
Manheimer also developed oversight for the San Leandro PD after a controversial incident, earning the support of diverse communities.
She serves on three National Police Boards, advises the US Bureau of Justice Assistance, and coaches many Chiefs locally and nationally. Her leadership has garnered trust and appreciation in every community she has served. She is well respected throughout the community.
This past month Chief Manheimer completed another successful and impactful Interim Chief’s assignment in San Bruno marked by her hallmark dedication to public safety and service and distinguished by her compassionate leadership.
Mr. Winchester’s misdeeds were not revealed by his previous employer when he came to work for San Mateo. We should always know the facts before we attempt to defame anyone or maybe just not do it at all.
Best,
Rich Hedges, 54-year resident of the City of San Mateo.
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