The Morgan Hill Police Department has added five new cops to its force bringing the total number of sworn officers to 38, filing vacancies and using Redevelopment Agency funds.
Of the five new officers, one is already out on the street on his own, the other three are going through field training with other officers. A fifth is still going through the police academy and will graduate in October.
Officers Demetrick Caballero, Wayne Bell, Scott Martin and Carson Thomas have recently joined the department. Jeremy Singleton is in the academy.
Starting salary range for Morgan Hill police officers is $73,848 - $94,260 per year.
"We have been so far down for so long, it's taken a long time to get to that 38," said Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming. "On the books, we have 38, but three people in training. Still, we're starting to fill out."
The 38 officers bring the department to just under one officer per 1,000 residents, which is the lowest ratio in Santa Clara County.
"That is what is telling to me," Cumming said. "When I look at our neighbors, we're still last in Santa Clara County, even below cities with a lower crime rate. We have our parolees, we have our domestic violence incidents, gang activity, we have more calls for service than many of the areas that have more officers per 1,000."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation recommends 1.5 officers per 1,000.
"Just getting up to one per thousand is an improvement," Cumming said. "We do have unsworn people that do a lot of our tasks. There is really no scientific proof that 1.5 is the magic number, but being at the bottom of the county is to me a more telling fact."
The chief would like to add seven more officers to the department, but is
pleased to fill the vacancies and add the two new positions through a Redevelopment Agency grant.
"I have been very impressed with Demetrick and Carson have a number of years of experience, that's really beneficial to the department, they were ready to hit the street running, so to speak," he said. "Demetrick helped recover three stolen vehicles all at once, he had pulled over two cars and they turned out to be stolen, and the incident led to the recovery of a third stolen vehicle. Carson is an enthusiastic and hard-working young man. He brings a lot of experience from Newark. He was a school resource officer there, and on the SWAT team."
Thomas, 34, who came to Morgan Hill from Newark, said he was very happy to join the Morgan Hill Police Department.
"I looked into the department, into the city before applying, and it seemed a good move to make," he said. "There are good people in law enforcement here, and the community seems to be a very nice place to live, a nice place to have a family."
Thomas is married with two young sons, a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old. Though he grew up in San Jose, he graduated from Trinity University in Illinois with a bachelor's degree in youth ministry and theology.
Martin and Bell came to Morgan Hill straight from the police academy. Martin is a Morgan Hill resident, and Bell is a former resident of Red Bluff. Bell said he has enjoyed his time with the department.
"It's a good department to work in," he said. "There are a lot of opportunities for the officers, the SWAT team, detectives, street crimes. I think having those options as you progress in your career is a positive thing, makes people want to stay with the department."
Cumming praised Bell and Martin.
"Wayne Bell and Scott Martin are academy grads, and they're progressing very well and learning quickly," he said. "They are super additions to the department. Jeremy Singleton will graduate in October. It's good to have a combination of people to draw from, brand-new people, experienced people from other organizations. We feel very fortunate and lucky to get them."
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or send her an email.
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