San Bruno’s new police chief says tight-knit community sets department, city apart

“I still really believe in the importance of the work,” he said. “How do I support the men and women of San Bruno PD in supporting our community? That’s pretty cool. That gets you out of bed in the morning.”

His burgeoning tenure as chief has driven home San Bruno’s tight-knit community feel — “it’s a weird mix of a small town with sometimes big-city issues” — highlighted by the officers who staff his new department.

“So many people who work at this police department, they have family here. They grew up here. They may still live here. They have friends and family here. Their kids may go to school here,” Lethin said.

San Bruno is not immune to the challenges police departments have faced across the nation in recent years. Nationwide protests, spurred by the 2020 murder of George Floyd, forced officers and civilians alike to reckon with the role police play in local communities and the harms of systemic racism.

That’s encouraged Lethin to get feedback on policymaking decisions from the community, he said, encouraging partnership and discussions on tough questions whenever possible.

“I think for policing, it’s an ability now to move forward to — how do we engage our community?” he said. “Because we have to do it in partnership. We’re not policing on our community. We’re policing with our community.”

In addition, police departments big and small face ongoing challenges with understaffing and lackluster retention rates. Currently, the department is down by six employees in a staff of 72, with the biggest challenge — and one replicated nationwide — filling dispatch positions, Lethin said.

San Bruno’s own budget issues remain a concern for the city as a whole and for the department, which has upcoming contract negotiations.

The cost-of-living issues that plague the Bay Area means offering officers a living wage is important to properly staffing the department, Lethin said, but he’s also looking at a holistic approach that will potentially inspire young, local residents to consider a career in law enforcement and continue the community atmosphere already within the department.

“There are a lot of young people coming up who really want to help make the world better. And then, there’s a lot of teenagers and young adults coming up in San Bruno. They love this town,” he said. “They’re like, ‘I don’t know that I want an office job, but [I could want] going out and helping people.’ And a lot of the people we’ve hired have come from that kind of formula.”

To solve some of the city and county’s thorniest issues like homelessness, particularly without a large budget, Lethin says he envisions regionalization as part of the future of policing. Incorporating other city police departments, mental health teams and community-based organizations will be key, he said, noting particular potential in technological and real-time information center advances.

“I think there’s an awareness of the interconnectedness of the issues we’re facing, the really big ones,” Lethin said. “And we can’t do it alone.”

The city also faces unique issues of its own. The previous police chief, Ryan Johansen, was charged with running San Bruno’s beleaguered parking meter program, which faced a plethora of issues and community outrage with a botched rollout in his last year.

While issues with the metered parking have largely settled, the police department will remain a liaison between LAZ parking enforcement and the city, with the goal of parking availability and creating an enticing downtown space.

“I’ll be honest, I was disappointed that it was so bumpy. I don’t think anybody wanted it to be that bumpy,” Lethin said. “I feel pretty confident the lessons were learned, which is great, and I feel like the path identified to move forward is one that has a track record of success.”

In addition, the City Council recently committed to addressing the city’s issues with illegal dumping and litter. The first year of aggressive cleanup could cost up to $1.46 million, and a potential municipal code update might give the city a more serious enforcement approach.

Lethin wants to bring both a data-based and community-minded approach to San Bruno’s dumping problems, which he said are fundamentally a public health and quality of life issue.

Ultimately, however, he said a large part of his job thus far has been listening, integrating himself into the work of existing staff and continuing the culture of close bonds that officers have between one another and the community as a whole. Those relationships inform the everyday work of responding to calls, as police often know the community members they’re assisting.

“We’re going to see each other again, right? I’m invested in this relationship. I’m invested in outcomes. I’m looking for long term outcomes,” he said. “I’m not just trying to get through a call. I really want to think holistically — what’s best for you, the community, the department?”