Photograph by Paul Myers

Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Chief Larry Todd says the decision to retire on June 30, 2001, was a 'long, thought-out process.'

Retired police chief looks toward 'real' retirement

By Gloria I. Wang

Following a year that was full of hiring new town staff, Los Gatos is now making preparations to shift personnel again by hiring a new Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police chief.

Chief Larry Todd's tenure in town ends June 30, a year after he officially retired and agreed to stay on the job on a contract basis. As a result, recruitment and outreach efforts to replace Todd began in January.

According to consultant Bill Avery, from the firm of William Avery & Associates, the open position has been posted on several relevant websites and been advertised in publications such as Western City, the League of California Cities magazine.

Avery is also expecting to print a brochure that will be mailed to all police departments and circulated throughout the state.

Todd, 53, had decided to retire on June 30, 2001, when he would be maxed out in the retirement system. After 32 years in law enforcement--14 ¹/2 of them in Los Gatos as chief--Todd thought, "I've had a good run" and "It's time for someone to step in and hopefully keep the good traditions going," he says.

When Town Manager Debra Figone started her job in November 2000, Todd shared with her his plans to retire. Figone asked him to consider staying on because of all the turnover going on with department heads--the finance director resigned in January and the director of parks and public works in March. "I felt it was important to hold onto the chief for another year," Figone says.

Todd says the retirement system allows a person to work no more than six months in any calendar year without jeopardizing their retirement benefits, so staying on for one year on contract was possible.

Also, Todd's daughter will graduate from Los Gatos High School in June 2002, and Todd says he and his wife, Valerie, wanted to help their daughter settle into college before making any plans for the future.

"It worked out for [Figone] and it worked out for us as well," Todd says. While the Todds have made no solid plans to move out of the area, Todd says they will most likely do so in the near future.

"I can't think of anything I'd rather have done besides what I have done," Todd says. "But there's more to life than working full time."

Figone says Todd is a "solid professional" who has an "overall commitment to public administration and public safety," and is a team player who also manages to be a good department head.

As a member and former president of the California Police Chiefs Association, Todd says he will help publicize the job opening as well as gather names of potential candidates.

Avery is in the process of receiving input on what to look for in a police chief from police department employees, members of the community and representatives from the school district. From that information, Avery and his team will screen and interview candidates, who must turn in their applications by March 8. Avery anticipates that by the middle of April he will be able to make some recommendations to town staff. Figone will then conduct panel interviews, in hopes of bringing the new police chief on board one week before Todd leaves.

In the meantime, Todd says he has many plans for the police department in the next five months and will not be slacking off in any way. "There's still a lot we want to accomplish," Todd says.

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