Interview with Matteucci

Who watches 500 Days of Summer, blasts Taylor Swift, and loves s'more brownies? I do, of course. But so does Burlingame's Police Chief, Mike Matteucci, and he does it all in a bulletproof vest. I recently interviewed him and rode along in a police car for the inside story on what it takes to run a police department. Matteucci manages a staff of forty officers and is completing his fourth year as police chief. He values compassion and community connection, and told me he wants to change the "tough guy" image associated with police departments.

Over his tenure Matteucci has implemented policies to further strengthen the relationship between officers and community members, as seen with the creation of the Community Response Team (CRT). These officers patrol smaller areas to develop relationships with residents in order to be able to connect them with social services and homeless outreach if needed. Matteucci organized town halls after many demanded police reform in light of George Floyd's murder. And he implemented 8 Can’t Wait, a set of eight policies designed for de-escalation. He believes that it is important for the community to trust the department, which can be achieved through transparency. 

Besides setting policy, Matteucci works to build a kind and supportive work environment for his employees. He told me that by simply being in the office and having casual conversations with officers, it becomes significantly easier for them to approach him when a difficult situation emerges. He envisions an office environment more similar to a tech startup than a police station. In other words, a station bubbling with creativity and camaraderie. Matteucci is proud of the progress he has made and his officers for remaining resilient and adaptable.