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Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department Sgt. John Jennings will miss his police motorcycle after he retires, but he plans to enjoy the Harley-Davidson he has at home--that is, when he's not driving cross-country in his camper.
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John Jennings bids Los Gatos 'Happy Day'
By Shari Kaplan
In 1998, the movie industry had a big hit with the comedy There's Something About Mary. In 2001, if Los Gatos were to proffer something similar, it would likely be There's Something about John.
For the past 29 years, the perennially jovial John Jennings--definitely a big hit at 6 feet 3 inches tall--has served on the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department as an officer in just about every position available to officers. Recently, Chief Larry Todd promoted him to sergeant, a position he could have taken years ago but declined, as the single father of two daughters.
Jennings has also emerged as a perennial winner of "Best Police Officer" in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times' annual Best of Los Gatos readers' survey. "I'm amazed myself!" he says, with a laugh. "The guys at work always tease me about that." And there's no ballot-stuffing either--cop's honor!
"I always have a good word for people, and I've always tried to treat people fairly and with compassion," he says. "People remember when you're nice to them. They also remember when you're not!"
"When people leave contacts with him, they feel positive about the experience," adds Todd, who gave Jennings his sergeant's chevrons at the department's annual recognition dinner in May. "Everyone knows what it's like to have a rotten apple in your organization, but it's tenfold in the opposite direction when you have someone like John."
As the movie character Mary, who becomes a popular, successful name in her community, Jennings is known--by face, if not by name--by many people in town. Not the least of his fans are his daughters, Jennifer and Jeanette, both now in their 20s.
His popularity is due, in part, to the sunny smile that's as much a part of his ruddy complexion as the badge on his uniform. In fact, "happy day" is his favorite phrase, which he uses the way most people use "hello."
"Those two words really do summarize John's attitude. He has an upbeat, positive personality," Todd says.
Jennings also suspects his nearly 15 years of motorcycle patrol (1978-91 and 1998-2000) helped him gain a visibility not all officers attain. "I have fun and I love my job; I think that must rub off on people," he adds. The motorcycle patrol was a particularly good match for this proud owner of a 1990 Harley-Davidson Low Rider and a Honda trail bike.
Although Jennings says he knows there are people, who may dislike him because they disagree with citations or arrests he's made, he says there are also people he's "busted" in their youth who come back as adults to show him they've changed, or even to show off their children. "I think 90 percent of 'problem kids' grow up to be great adults," he asserts.
Growing up in San Carlos, Jennings himself was a problem kid--at least to one Officer Beabon of the San Carlos Police Department. "I'd always go out and pester him," Jennings says, recalling how he first met Beabon, when the officer monitored a radar trap near Jennings' home.
"He just kind of nurtured me throughout childhood. I knew I wanted to be a police officer since I was a boy. I'm sure it kept me out of a lot of trouble having all that direction early in my life," he adds with a wry smile. He also was impressed with California Highway Patrol officers, who, he says, treated him with fairness and compassion while giving him two tickets in his "reckless youth."
After obtaining a bachelor's degree in administration of justice from San Jose State University, Jennings was hired by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department and never had the desire to leave. Over the years, he's served as a detective, field training officer and member of the accident investigations team and SWAT team--along with car and motorcycle patrol.
Jennings says one of his most frightening incidents occurred when he and another officer responded to a late-night burglary in progress at an office complex. A man, whom even Jennings describes as "huge." suddenly jumped through a glass window, sending shards everywhere and brandishing a hammer.
"I was petrified; it was like a horror movie!" he says, recalling how close he came to shooting. After seeing Jennings' drawn gun, the suspect submitted to arrest.
Jennings is also a two-time recipient of a meritorious award--the second-highest award an officer can earn. In 1992, he saved an infant's life by performing artificial respiration. In 1995, he was part of a SWAT team engaged in a stand-off with an armed man barricaded inside a building.
Ironically, Jennings' worst injury came not from upholding the law, but from falling down a flight of stairs, injuring his diaphragm and ribs, and puncturing part of a lung. He has since recovered, but, because the injury reduced some of his lung capacity, he now works mainly at the police station, conducting background investigations.
As a retired man, Jennings plans to drive cross-country this summer with his dog Lily, seeing sites and visiting friends and family along the way. They'll be taking Jennings' pickup truck, outfitted with a fully equipped camper--a la John Steinbeck, his camper and his dog in the book, Travels with Charley.
"I have no regrets about anything I did or didn't do," Jennings says, smiling. "I could not have found a happier place to work."
The public is welcome at a retirement party the police department is throwing for Jennings on June 29, at a local banquet facility. Cost is $45 per person and includes a buffet dinner, live music and dancing. Reservation deadline is June 25. For more information, call Gwen Cross at 408.354.6842.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
