For a year now, Police Chief Gerald Galvin has presided over the
Morgan Hill Police Department, and, while he believes there are
still challenges ahead, he sees results.
For a year now, Police Chief Gerald Galvin has presided over the Morgan Hill Police Department, and, while he believes there are still challenges ahead, he sees results.
“We’re really seeing the fruits of our labors,” he said. “While focusing on follow-up of cases, we are getting some repeat offenders, some that have preyed on the community for quite a while now.”
Looking back over his first year, which has been one of reorganization for the department, Galvin said although the crime rate is up, he is proud of the efforts of his department.
The crime rate overall in Morgan Hill is up 19 percent over last year, with the greatest increases in auto theft, burglary and arson.
“Yes, our crime rate has increased, but I think it is important to understand what that means,” Galvin said. “We initiated 5,400 cases this year. The department has never been above 5,000 before.”
The MHPD has rigorously followed UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) regulations in reporting all cases, Galvin is pleased with the department’s crime clearance rates, which describes the number of cases the department solves. The rates are at or above the national average. In assault cases, for example there were 49 total cases this year, with a clearance rate of 78 percent, compared to the national average of 57 percent.
“We’ve really improved our investigating skills,” he said. “We solve crimes in this city.”
There are three main cases Galvin said come to mind when he thinks about his first year: a serial rapist, the one murder of the year and the drug bust that uncovered a methamphetamine lab in the downtown area.
“I’m proud of the work the department did on those cases,” he said. “The serial rapist we caught here in Morgan Hill, and there were people looking for him in Capitola, Santa Cruz and Watsonville.”
Galvin, who will be 61 in May, took over the job in January 2002 from retiring Chief Steve Schwab. City Manger Ed Tewes had known Galvin in Clovis, and when the job was becoming available, let him know the position was open. Galvin spent time in Albuquerque as police chief and was interested in getting back to California, so he interviewed for the position and was hired.
Galvin and his wife, Cecelia, better known as CeCee, are happy to be back in California, close to family.
“I have a son and daughter in the Bay Area,” he said. “I have a son and granddaughter in Clovis.”
The Galvins have been out of state for eight years, he said, and although the home prices here were something they had to adjust to, the move was a relatively easy one.
Halfway through his first year, Galvin had a setback that might have slowed his efforts to make the department his own: he injured his knee in a fall while jogging in early July. His knee was broken and required surgery and a cast while recovering. Acting Capt. Terry Booten served as acting police chief during the few months Galvin was taking care of his knee.
Galvin said during the time he was forced to hand the day-to-day duties over to Booten, he was still involved on a daily basis.
“I did a lot of my work from home,” he said. “I still came into the office regularly for meetings … My doctor just wanted me to stay out of active duty so my knee could fully recover.”
Changing times
The police department itself has changed since Galvin started last year. With the departure of Capt. Carey Sullivan for a police chief position in the Yolo County community of Woodland, Galvin decided to create two lieutenant positions instead of filling Sullivan’s position, and reorganize the department into three divisions.
The City Council has approved the two new positions, and Galvin is in the process of filling them.
“This gives our people more opportunity to be promoted from within,” he said. “I think this will be very beneficial for the department.”
Galvin was also was the driving force behind a $125,000 grant to provide a second SRO, or school resource officer, to work with the Morgan Hill School District. SRO Mindy Rojas handled issues at Live Oak High, Central High and Britton Middle schools, and the occasional elementary school incident, alone until SRO Max Cervantes came on board in August to share the duties.
However, of concern for all city employees and citizens who depend on their services are shrinking city revenues. While there is a hiring freeze, Galvin will not be able to replace the Offices of Emergency Services position, which became vacant when Debbie Simon retired at the end of the year. This is an area that will receive increased federal funding as the new department of Homeland Security is funded.
Several officers will be retiring this year, and the department already has one of the lowest officer per thousand citizen ratios in the area.
Facility blues
Finances also play into the department’s search for a new facility. The current facility, at the corner of Monterey Road and Main Street, is too small. The possibility of a new construction, in conjunction with the new courthouse facility planned for Butterfield Boulevard, was ruled out because of size.
The department and the City Council continue to look at other options including Galvin, who recently joined the Community Solutions Board of Directors, said he is confident that the department can meet these and other challenges.
“I am happy with what we as a department have accomplished, and I am proud of all my officers,” he said. “Our challenge is to maintain police services with shrinking revenues and diminished resources. We will have to work hard, and I know we will.”
Having served in law enforcement for 40 years, with 27 of those years as a police chief, Galvin said he is not ready for retirement.
“I still have farther to go, more that I want to do,” he said. “I still have fire in my belly.”
