Shane credits his mom for
convincing him to make a senior-year
transfer to Bellarmine, which helped
him focus, and encouraging him to
pursue his interests on college and
scholarship applications.
Shane enrolled in Justice Studies at
San Jose State University and won a
soccer scholarship. Sophomore year, he
shifted to Law Enforcement and knew
he’d found his calling.
During those years, Shane worked
as a janitor, inventory clerk, and
construction worker. As a cadet,
he interned with the SJSU Police
Department, and worked for the Santa
Clara County Probation Office as a
youth counselor at the Boy’s Ranch and
Girl’s Ranch facilities in Morgan Hill
and San Jose.
“It provided a structured environ-
ment for kids who’d never had one.
Hearing their stories reminded me
how fortunate I was growing up. I saw
kids born into situations they couldn’t
control. They needed a chance to learn
what good decisions are before they
could make good decisions.”
The Academy
After graduating from SJSU, Shane
tested for the Police Academy in 2002.
Morgan Hill Police Department spon-
sored him through the Academy at
Gavilan College. He graduated at age 23
and was hired by MHPD as an officer.
He went through field training,
gradually taking on direct responsibil-
ity while being shadowed by an officer.
A one-year probation period followed.
Shane knew that if he failed any aspect
of testing more than once, he’d be
dismissed from the Academy.
“There was daily pressure to per-
form to expectations in order to stay
on. The Academy was a means to my
dream career. I wanted to graduate at
the top of my class. My passion for
the profession definitely carried me
through when things got tough.”
In 2004, Shane became a full-
time police officer with MHPD. Since
then he has earned promotions while
serving as a Field Training Officer,
Detective, Person Crimes Officer,
Corporal/First Line Supervisor,
Sergeant, and Captain. This year,
he’s been tasked with overseeing the
Special Ops and Patrol divisions of the
PD, and serving as Acting Chief when
Police Chief David Swing’s duties call
him away from the office.
The “Department of Choice”
The MHPD mission is to be the
Department of Choice. Shane explained
it this way: “If our community could
choose any PD in the nation to call to
assist them in their time of need, they
would choose MHPD because we’ve
established a pattern and practice
of providing a service that exceeds
community expectations.”
Shane provided examples of
officers going beyond the call of duty.
“There was the officer on patrol
who stopped to change a flat tire so
the resident didn’t have to wait on the
roadside. The officer who encountered
someone down on their luck, paid for
a hotel room, and checked on them the
next morning. The officer who took a
report from a victim of identity theft
and called back with 48 hours with
follow-up steps to help the resident
ensure their identity was protected.
And the officer who checked in daily on
a student with truancy issues, brought
him to school in his patrol car, and gave
him a pep talk on the way. That stu-
dent, now an adult, still remembers and
appreciates the help he received.”
“Public safety is about law enforce-
ment, and beyond that, connecting
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
april/may 2019
with the City and caring for the com-
munity, including the downtown busi-
nesses, neighborhoods, schools, and
parks. It’s about understanding the
spirit of the law, not just the letter of
the law.”
On a “typical” day, Shane looks
after the patrol division, making sure
they respond to the needs of the
community and have tools and equip-
ment they need. He communicates with
them about regional crime trends and
ensures that everyone is on the same
page, empowered to do their jobs. He
acknowledges officers’ work in front
of the entire department. He stays
connected with outside agencies. He
keeps an eye on emerging trends and
technology. He looks for funding. And
he assists with recruiting.
Words of Affirmation
“Our Police Chief, David Swing, was
my first training officer and mentor.
He helped me draw a clear boundary
between work and home life and made
sure I knew when I was in the gray area.
He commended and challenged me
and told me what I needed to hear. I’ll
always be grateful for that.”
Shane was recognized by the
City of Morgan Hill as Employee of
the Year (2018) and was awarded a
medal of bravery after apprehending a
murder suspect. He has also won peak
performance awards from MHPD.
Family Matters
Shane described Tiffany, his wife of
19 years and an English Professor at
Gavilan College, as an “intelligent,
beautiful wife to whom I owe much of
my success.” Tiffany encouraged him
to pursue part-time studies so he could
earn his Master’s degree in Criminal
Justice Administration/Justice Studies
from SJSU.
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