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Published on 01/11/1999 All articles from this issue

Los Altos hires 3 new police officers

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

It's been a banner week for the Los Altos Police Department. Chief Lucy Carlton announced the hiring of three new officers. One began Jan. 4 and the other two will be going through the police academy beginning Jan. 20.

"It's the first time in a long time that we've sent two to the police academy," Carlton said.

These three new hires are replacing the three officers who are moving into traffic enforcement, two of whom are already out on their motorcycles.

Mike McKenzie, 30, was sworn in on Jan. 4. After a 40-hour week of orientation, he was in uniform on Monday. He will be with a training officer for 16 weeks, as he gradually assumes more responsibility. All new hires at the police department also have an 18-month probation period.

This is McKenzie's first job as a police officer. The San Jose native graduated from Fresno State University in 1996 with a bachelor's degree. Then he put himself through the police academy at Evergreen College in San Jose, finishing in November 1997.

The academy at Evergreen is considered "really good," said Los Altos Police Sgt. Ron Vierra, "maybe even the best in the nation."

McKenzie, who grew up in Reno, met and liked officers from Los Altos and said he heard people speak highly of the department. He was drawn to Los Altos "by the closeness of the community."

So he applied and began the lengthy screening process. After six months, passing all aspects of the process - interviews, a background investigation, written, polygraph and psychological tests and the chief's interview, he got the job.

"Because our standards are high, the number who complete the application process is low," said Joe Mamone, who is McKenzie's training officer.

Starting pay for rookie officers is $44,500 per year, Vierra said.

The two heading off to the police academy are Scott McCrossin, 28, and Steven Bunch, 23.

McCrossin, from San Jose, started in Los Altos as a police dispatcher. Bunch, from Los Gatos, earned a bachelor's degree from San Jose State University in December 1998. He majored in administration of justice and had completed a 200-hour internship in Los Altos.

working with Vierra.

"He liked us, and we liked him," Carlton said.

As McKenzie begins his second week, he said he's looking forward to identifying problems and then helping to solve them, "making people feel safe in their community."