Los Gatos-Monte Sereno interim police chief Michael D'Antonio recently told Silicon Valley Realtors that it is the objective of the police department to build relationships with its residents because community collaboration keeps the town safe. He wants Realtors to let their clients know about the police department's services and outreach to residents.
At a meeting of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors in Los Gatos, D'Antonio said Los Gatos and Monte Sereno are among the safest places to live in Silicon Valley. He indicated the department receives approximately 4,000 police reports a year and averages 1,000 arrests a year. There is an average of two burglaries a week, or about 110 to 120 a year. Compared to other cities in the region, crime is low per capita in the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno area.
"This is a safe community, but we can always be safer," said D'Antonio.
D'Antonio indicated officers are assigned to one of three beats in the area that comprises about 14 square miles. This way, response time is quick. Response time for priority one calls (emergency, life, fire) is under five minutes and under 10 minutes for priority two calls.
Residents can check crime in their community by visiting crimereports.com. Except for confidential information, like juvenile crimes, the site pulls all of the department's crime reports on a daily basis.
D'Antonio encourages homeowners to register on Los Gatos On Watch, so the department can inform them if an incident occurs in their neighborhood.
The police department cares about its senior residents and invites them to sign up for Operation C.A.R.E., a program that provides a free daily check-in telephone service to make sure the senior is all right. Already this year the program has saved two lives, said D'Antonio.
The department uses Nextdoor.com to communicate with the community. D'Antonio urges residents to join the social media platform and to form a Neighborhood Watch to keep their neighborhood safe.
The police chief said residents should not hesitate calling the police if they have concerns, especially is they see or sense something suspicious. The department's non-emergency phone number is (408) 354-8600. 9-1-1 emergency calls, if placed in town, will go directly to the police department. If the caller is along Highway 17, and the call goes to CHP (California Highway Patrol), it will be transmitted to the local police department.
"Our ultimate goal is to get to know everyone in the community. By integrating ourselves, that's how we stay safe," he said. "We need cooperation and collaboration in the community, so we can stop crime before it happens."
The Realtors asked D'Antonio what police can do regarding the cut-through beach traffic situation, which has gotten worse in the last three years. He said the department has posted signs and issued tickets, but to no avail. As to suggestions of closing the Highway 9 on-ramp or Lark Avenue off-ramp, D'Antonio said Caltrans will not allow the closures. He said the town is working with mapping applications Waze and Google Maps to honor "Local Traffic Only" signage and not divert drivers to residential areas.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.