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Uploaded: Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 3:58 PM
Menlo Park names Robert Jonsen new police chief
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 | Robert Jonsen, a 26-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, has been named the new police chief of Menlo Park, City Manager Alex McIntyre announced Wednesday, Jan. 30.
Jonsen succeeds Lee Violett, who has been interim chief since the former chief, Bryan Roberts, left last August.
Jonsen, who is expected to take over in mid-February, "brings a unique blend of successful experience in police operations, community awareness and sensitivity, and innovative use of technology," McIntyre stated in a press release.
For the past two years, the new chief has been captain of the Lancaster Sheriff's Station in Los Angeles County, overseeing 227 deputies in the city of about 157,000 residents. Prior to that, he headed an "anti-crime effort in Antelope Valley that helped reduce crime rates to their lowest in over a decade," according to the Menlo Park press release.
Jonsen holds a bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach, and a master's degree in organizational leadership from Woodbury University in Southern California.
"There are no words to adequately express my excitement returning to the Bay Area after living and working in Los Angeles for the past 30 years," Jonsen said in the press release. He was born and raised in the Bay Area, according to Menlo Park city staff.
He will be formally appointed after a Peace Officer Standards and Training compliant background check is conducted. The check is required of California police chiefs when they accept a position in a department where they are not currently employed, according to the press release.Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Wondering?, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 30, 2013 at 6:26 pm What role in chosing a police chief in Menlo Park does the City Council play? Do they get any say in the selection, or approval, of the key City officers?
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Posted by Oldtimer, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Jan 30, 2013 at 10:20 pm Thank god. Anyone but Bertini or Lacy Burt!
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Posted by Police Chief David Couper, a resident of another community, on Jan 31, 2013 at 6:05 am Ever wonder what should be required of your police? And your chief of police? Ever wonder why policing seems to be so slow to improve? Follow the blog of a veteran police chief at Web Link and read his new book about what needs to be done and the seven necessary steps. Police in a democracy need to be well-trained, controlled in their use of force, honest, courteous to everyone, and closely connected to the communities they serve.
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Posted by Wondering?, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jan 31, 2013 at 12:55 pm Nice site. Thanks.
I’d like to suggest that people review this site, which is a history of the police—
Web Link
I’d like to point out that the role of the police is probably not all that well thought out, in terms of “theory”, anyway, at the local government level. For instance, the Palo Alto City Charter makes no mention of the need for, or the requirements for, a police department. Menlo Park is a General Law City—meaning that whatever legal requirements for the police originate from the Legislature. Leaving the average citizen with little hope of ever fully understanding the role of the police.
Most City governments seem more-than-comfortable with this lack of organizational framework. Sadly, too many of us residents seem comfortable with the status-quo.
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