Chamber: Recruit McCarthy honored
as Police Officer of the Quarter
January 21, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A Santa Paula Police Officer with less than a year on the job has made such an impression that he was chosen Police Officer of the Quarter and honored by the Chamber of Commerce.
Officer Dan McCarthy was honored at the monthly chamber breakfast meeting January 13.
Police Chief Steve McLean noted, “When I got here 18 months ago I was number 21,” of the officers on the force, which had been reduced from a high of 34 officers in 2010.
Now, said McLean, “We’ve gone from 21 to 28... part of that is hiring five that were sent to the police academy, all outstanding, all in the top 90 percent.”
McCarthy, he noted, “Was one of those... “
In fact, when McCarthy and other new recruits were introduced to the City Council in April, McLean said McCarthy was one of only 10 recruits in the class of 71 - one other recruit is also a SPPD Officer - that scored above 92 percent.
“I couldn’ be happier with these five individuals,” that McLean said are “now all off training and on their own... and half the cops on our streets have been here eight months or less.”
It is “unique” that McCarthy was being honored as, “He’s so brand new but he’s done such a great job, one of the top officers as far as I’m concerned.”
McCarthy has a high arrest rate, “A tremendous work ethic,” and said McLean, “is a real smart guy... I have an instinct about officers and I see him climbing up the ranks. I appreciate how hard he works.”
McCarthy is “proactive... he’s put there stopping people, he’s out there arresting people,” but McLean said the officer is not the subject of complaints from the public.
“He’s being proactive and respectful,” said McLean. “The smart cop who’s doing his job good does that, he doesn’t care if you’re dealing with a gang banger or a pastor, my attitude is how we approach people is the same.”
Chamber of Commerce President Fred Robinson presented the Police Officer of the Quarter Award to McCarthy, who was accompanied by his wife Marlow McCarthy and their young children Skye, Collin, Dylan and Kaitlynn.
“It’s an honor to work for the city,” said McCarthy. “I’m thankful to have come on,” the SPPD and “grateful to the chief,” for the opportunity to become a Santa Paula Police Officer.
