Comprehensive Public Safety

By Gordon Siebert

Make Morgan Hill's Police Department, fire services, emergency preparedness and other services that contribute to public safety the best possible given our size and resources.

As a City Manager, I oversaw the Police Department and hired a new Police Chief. It is very important that we choose the right Police Chief for Morgan Hill and I believe that you and I can make a contribution to that process.

Morgan Hill is fortunate to be a safe place to live, with a crime rate below the county's average. However, there are problems and we must seek opportunities to make the city even safer. We have an outstanding police department that is working under difficult financial constraints. Their effectiveness comes from solid leadership, employee training and providing them with the right tools. Efficiency is achieved through smart personnel selection and the efficient utilization and deployment of resources.

We all can help support our local Police Department by volunteering, supporting the Community Law Enforcement Foundation and participating in the upcoming forums to guide the selection of our next police chief.

Fire safety and emergency medical care are important too. We can be good citizens by eliminating hazards such as overgrown weeds. Emergency preparedness, an area in which Morgan Hill excels, offers opportunities for everyone to be involved, in one's own home or by participating at the community level. Other important elements to protect public safety include street lighting, traffic safety and the wide availability of recreational activities.

What I've done:

• Worked with the Rockville, MD Police Department to secure a grant to hire more police officers
• Attended team-building exercises with two police chiefs while serving as Palos Verdes Estates' city manager
• Competed for and secured nearly a dozen traffic safety grants in cities throughout California
• Worked with residents to raise funds to enhance police, fire and emergency medical services
• Negotiated a contract with Los Angeles County which improved fire services and lowered costs.