I've always had a deep respect for law enforcement and the function of the police and sheriff's office in our society. After my dealings with San Mateo County, however, I have changed my tune on just how functional and valuable law enforcement is in its current state in our society. The detectives at San Mateo County Sheriff's Office are dishonest and hide vital information from their reports, depriving citizens of justice. I came to the Sheriff's office with legitimate and honest concerns, and I was treated with the utmost disrespect - like I was a criminal for bringing my concerns to their attention. Next time, if I suspect illegal activity or have concerns, I will not bring these to the San Mateo County or local law enforcement's attention. The public trust in law enforcement from me and my family is very low. We would hope that this Sheriff's Office could be revamped with decent leadership who cares about its community, and doesn't seek to deprive its users of justice. I talked to other folks in the community about this and found my experience is not isolated. This is just San Mateo County Sheriff for you. Concerned about #1: themselves, NOT the community they're supposed to protect. read more

Seriously this is the worst encounter with law enforcement I have ever had in my life and I'm embarrassed that someone who is working for this county and sworn in to PROTECT AND TO SERVE San Mateo county would conduct themselves in such a violating manner. A few months ago I was coming out of Walgreens in milbrae and went to my car ( made a quick call to let someone know I would be there shortly ) but before I could hang up I had a sheriff knocking on my car back window asking me why I have dealer plates on my car ( 2008 Honda) that's odd .. have I committed a crime? Am I breaking the law?? I didn't know that it was illegal to make a phone call before leaving a Walgreens parking lot but definitely noted. After informing me my license was suspended and after proving the car was mine and not stolen ... I was told to step out of the car. Hmmmmm okay so am I under arrest for something " no your not under arrest were just having conversation " as the other officer searches my car without asking . Now I'm no lawyer or police officer but last time I checked since I'm not a felon on parole or probation nor have I committed a crime as I was just told I wasn't under arrest either then that would be illegally searching my car. read more

In the almost 20 years I've lived in San Carlos, I have fought a few good fights. I fought to pass bond issues benefiting our schools, I fought to keep our police force, I fought to get a stop sign installed on a busy street near Brittan Acres School, and when my ailing, elderly neighbor came to me for help, I fought against the homeowners next door to his rental who were breeding rottweilers in their garage and terrorizing his tenants to the point that they were afraid to empty their trash at the side of the house. The male broke through the front door and viciously attacked a toy collie across the street, traumatizing his elderly owner, Mary Livisgood, so badly that she never really recovered. She told me the Changs paid her vet bills and "gave her a bottle of wine to calm her down." Exemplary behavior, don't you think? Mary died a few years later. So did the elderly neighbor, John Taffe, who had elicited my help in the first place. When I saw the rottweiler go for another dog's throat in front of my house, I talked to the breeder about the safety of my young child. His response was: "That's your problem." So, I filed a police report. When these dogs attack other dogs, chances are children are next on the menu. The officer taking my report told me he wouldn't even let his 14-year-old in that backyard. When the breeder applied for a kennel permit because he had three dogs (plus the lucrative puppies), John begged me to help, and I rallied my neighbors to appear before the town council to expose the breeder for what he was: the owner of unlicensed, non-neutered animals who had several reports on file with the Humane Society. These dogs had also broken down the fence and run amok. It tells you something when even the mailman wouldn't go near the house; the owners installed a mailbox at the end of the driveway. My initial review was about a loud dog whom the neighbor (now a renter in the Changs' rottweiler house) let bark non-stop, even though I knocked on his door twice at 10:30 at night. He didn't do anything about it, and so I had to call the police. The noise ordinance here says you have to be quiet after 10:00 p.m., but did he care? No. Then, when another renter persisted in parking in front of my driveway I, again, had to ask the police for help, and the renter retaliated by trashing me on the internet and letting their dogs poop in my front yard. So, San Carlos Police, I thank you again for having my back. Hard to believe all this goes on in little San Carlos, but I guess uncivilized, even criminal, scofflaws who could care less about their neighbors are among us. read more

I was asked to water flowers for out of town family who from New Jersey called the police and told them I was making threats with a gun. - 25 officers were involved in my near execution. 25 drawn guns. no report. no access to the 911 call to confront my assaulting family. - BLATANTLY illegal action. read more

Multiple calls over the years to please ask them to enforce the 20 minute green zone infront of the United States Post Office. This is zoned 7 days a week until 9 pm so that businesses can pick up and drop of mail. Large volumne mail businesses sometimes have 2 or 3 plastic crate boxes to deposit and also pick up mail. The problem is when they have their Thursday night Laurel Street Festival. Everybody justs parks here as long as they want. They never move. I called several times each year to no avail. I end up having to park on El Camino and carry each crate (meaning 2 or 3 trips) to the lobby. THankyou men and women of SCPD. I'm just doing 2 stars to get someone's attention. Now guess what? I'm changing it to 5 stars, because someone in your department will see this and probably adress it. You folks are great. Yelp is my last resort. I know you don't like ticketing folks at 8:30 pm when they are spending $ in the local restaurants of enjoying the festival, but it is clearly marked. read more

I have an empty feeling in my stomach today because I am a "STRONG" supporter of our law enforcement community. But, Last evening I was in my shop "where I work" in San Carlos and somebody tried to open my front door !, It was already dark outside and I was concerned someone was trying to break into my business. I was afraid to open the door as I was the only person their at the time and I was closing out the register, I thought it would be best to call the police department. I spoke to the 911 dispatcher who said she would send someone over, I asked if she could tell the officer to knock on my door once they secured the area so I would know it's ok to open the door, she said of course they will advise me on their arrival. I sat alone in my office waiting for the assurance everything thing was ok and it never came ! I waited for an hour, nobody ever came !!!! I got the courage to open the door an hour later with a "hammer" in my hand. I really hope they got the address wrong ! and not that they just didn't care, or just drove by because their too busy !. Most day's my wife is the last one out of the office and leaves when it's dark so I am worried. I never thought I would call 911 and nobody would show up !! seems like we are on our own and I should look into getting some personal protection of some kind . "Never the less I'm not to impressed" . read more

This review is for the obese fake blonde Records clerk . She is very unpleasant. I recently went there to inquire about some police reports. During this process she was very rude, sarcastic, nasty and had just a sense of entitlement. When I called her out on it she refuse to give me my police reports and told me she did not know how long it would take her because she was busy. Really?? I had been going there for about a month now and every time I was there she was just sitting down browsing at magazines. I finally got my reports, I think only because I complaint. Anyways,it sucks that you are at their mercy. Its like being at a restaurant that give you bad food, you are hesitant to say anything because you don't want them messing with your food. She was rude and when I called her on it she took her sweet damn time to get me what I needed. Avoid her if you can. read more

I love San Carlos Police Department! The people who work there are very helpful and thoughtful. All of the police officers are very professional and are always willing to help you when you have some issues. San Carlos Poloice Depertment's family counselor Merian, became part of my family. She gives you the best advice and straightens out your priorities. Keep up the great work! read more

I have nothing but the utmost respect for the hefty blond officer who pulled over while I was sitting in my car, minding my own business, listening to the radio one summer evening about twenty years ago. Then another unit pulled to the scene. A fat balding guy who looked just like George Costanza forced himself from the unit, sweating and mumbling. He'd been on the force for quite sometime and kept pacing back and forth and repeating "Looks like it's time for some new tires" over and over ad nauseam like a mentally retarded senior citizen with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The blond guy searched my vehicle, because, you know, any chubby kid sitting in their Volkswagen Beetle might have a machete, a bloody chainsaw, and body parts prepared in bubble wrap...But hurray, all he found was less then a teaspoon of cannabis and a homemade wooden pipe that looked like a dradle saved in a house fire (and was equally painful to smoke out of as to look at). When I saw him holding the baggy, I thought for sure I'm going to be in handcuffs in short order and I'll proceed to lose my mind moments later. He tells me to be on my way, no loitering. I drive away and find my cannabis and my little burnt dradle delicately wrapped and put back in my backpack! I salute you, heavy blond police man, for really truly doing the right thing; twenty years later I've never been arrested, and I'm thankful an SC cop had the common sense not to arrest me over an amount of cannabis that wouldn't have buzzed an infant...(... my grow system today~?....Woooohooo, what a difference~!!!) And Thank The Universe he didn't find my three large Zip-Lock bags full of Shrooms and a page and a half of five-way Blotter Acid in my binder~! ROFL~! That would have been B.A.D~! But you can't blame him when the Blotter Acid looked like binder paper (with lightning bolts and Hello Kitties around the perimeter) and the Shooms were tucked waaaay under the dashboard. Man, Those Were The Days~!!! Thanks heavy blond San Carlos cop!!!!! read more

I was enjoying a break in the rain a couple weekends ago, and had lunch and did some window shopping in San Carlos. Went from there to the grocery store, but when I got there, I could not find my wallet. I finally figured out I must have dropped it getting out of the car in San Carlos. I went back to where I had parked, no sign of it. Went home, and within 10 minutes, my doorbell rang. A Mountain View officer was there, to tell me that the San Carlos police had my wallet. Hooray! I zoomed back and collected it. I am so grateful to the person who turned it in, and to the officers who reached out to get it back to me Thank you, all!!! read more