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?

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!

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.

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.