Contract Services

Since 1856, the Sheriff has been responsible for all unincorporated areas of the County, but over time, especially in the early 1900's, numerous areas incorporated and started their own police departments.  The Town of Woodside and Portola Valley incorporated, but decided not to start their own police departments.  In the late 1950's, both towns contracted with the Sheriff to provide all law enforcement services, including traffic, which is normally handled by the CHP.

In 1959, the City of Half Moon Bay incorporated and contracted with the Sheriff's Office for police services.  The contract was for two deputies to work the night shift, from 2200-0600 hours.  During the off hours, the South Coast car answered calls.  The contract ended in 1961, when the City hired Don Pearman, as chief and Fred Ceranski as a sergeant.  The last shift was on June 30, 1961, and was completed by deputies Roger Goad and Joel Blood.

In the mid 1960's, the Sheriff's Office began dedicating patrol cars to the San Mateo Highlands, also know as Eichler Highlands and the 40 Beat.  The Highlands, situated just west of the City of San Mateo, was built by Joseph Eichler in the 1950's and has 750 homes  They currently have two deputies assigned for 18 hours each day.  Prior to 1989, there were three deputies, one deputy worked from 0800-1600 and two deputies worked in the same car from 1600-2400.  From 2400-0800 the North end patrol car handled calls.  This area is called County Service Area #1 or CSA#1 and payments for dedicated service are made through property taxes and a special parcel tax.  The residents must vote on a ballot measure every four years to continue this service.  A two thirds vote is required and in 2008 it passed with 74.5% of the population approving the measure.  The CHP handles all traffic matters in the area, as it is still considered unincorporated San Mateo County.

In 1984, the City of East Palo Alto incorporated and started their own police department.  The Sheriff's Office put their new officers through our FTO program, but never passed or failed any officers.  The FTO files were given to the City, so they could decide who passed and who failed.  The Sheriff's Office rented a warehouse and office on Demeter Street for the Vehicle Theft Task Force, which later doubled as an office for the Sheriff's East Palo Alto Detective Bureau.  In the early 1990's, the City was having severe crime problems and contracted with the Sheriff to have several deputies and sergeants work along with their officers.  Since incorporation, the City has had several other agencies help them, including: the California Highway Patrol assigned vehicles to assist in traffic and criminal matters, the California Department of Justice assigned a supervisor, who was assigned as an East Palo Alto PD captain.  In 2007, after 23 years, the City of East Palo Alto ended all contracts with the Sheriff's Office.

In 2002, the Sheriff's Office started providing law enforcement services to the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) and the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans).  In the newly formed Transit Police Bureau, deputies patrol train and bus stations, railroad right-of-ways and other properties owned by the two entities.  Deputies have special district jurisdiction in San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties, with 30 Caltrain stations from San Francisco to Gilroy.  There are two substations, one in San Francisco, at 4th and King and the other at the San Jose Dierdon Station.  SamTrans provides bus service to most cities in San Mateo County and has a fleet of over 300 buses.  The Transit Police Bureau is in the Operations Division and consists of one lieutenant, two sergeants, one detective, one motor officer, three patrol deputies, five K9 deputies, one special enforcement officer (CSO) and a legal office specialist.  The Transit District has a Chief of Protective Services who oversees the entire operation, including the contract with the Sheriff's Office.  In 2004, Assistant Sheriff Bill Pedrini retired from the Sheriff's Office and became the Chief of Protective Services.  In 2009, he retired and Lieutenant Dave Triolo, who retired from the Sheriff's Office, became the new Chief.  Dave Triolo was the first sergeant in the Transit Bureau and in 2005 was promoted to the newly created lieutenant's position at the Transit District.

From August 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006, the City of Millbrae contracted with the Sheriff's Office to assign several deputies to work in Millbrae.  The deputies wore Millbrae PD uniforms, but wore a Sheriff's badge.  They patrolled the streets of Millbrae, in Millbrae PD cars and reported to the Millbrae supervisors.

In 2010, the City of San Carlos dissolved it's police department and contracted for all police services with the Sheriff's Office.  This is something that is common in other counties, but had never been done in San Mateo County.  The City of San Carlos found it could save over 2 million dollars a year outsourcing police services.  The San Carlos Police Department started in 1925, with one officer, Ed Wheeler and on October 31, 2010, all 39 members of the San Carlos Police Department were sworn in as Sheriff's Office employees.  Chief Greg Rothaus became a Sheriff's Captain and is in charge of the newly created San Carlos Police Bureau.  Most of the officers stayed in the City, but some wanted to experience other parts of the Sheriff's Office.

At midnight, on June 11, 2011, Sgt. Mark Reed, Sgt. Dennis Loubal and Officer John Carroll put their patrol cars away for the last time as Half Moon Bay PD officers.  On June 12, 2011, the Half Moon Bay Police Department was dissolved and Sheriff's deputies started patrolling the streets of Half Moon Bay.  On June 14, 2011, eleven police officers were sworn in as deputy sheriffs and three others were sworn in as Sheriff's employees.  The City of Half Moon Bay was another victim of the country's financial downturn, but with the additional problem of a large lawsuit that the City lost in 2009.  The last chief was interim Chief Lee Violett.  Five or six of the officers will be assigned to the Coastside Patrol Bureau and the rest will be assigned to different areas of the Sheriff's Office.