Oral History

Burny Matthews Interview

Themes:
Subjects:
Palo Alto Police Department, John Sterling, Pete Wilson, San Mateo County Sheriff Office, Gail Slocum, Larry Calloway, Burnham "Burny" Matthews, Red Team, Just Us, Bill Vines, High Crime Response Team, Menlo Park Police Department, Jean McCown
Date of Creation or Publication:
3/3/2025
Creator
Sharifa Wilson
Donor
Burny Matthews
Language
English
Copyright Statement:
Interview of Burnham “Burny” Matthews by Sharifa Wilson. Topics include: moving to the Bay Area from Michigan to work for the Oakland Police Department in 1968; hired as EPA Police Chief in 1991; poor state of the department when he arrived; working with Just Us to combat drug buying in EPA; relationships with Menlo Park PD, Palo Alto PD and the SMC Sheriff Office; eventually putting together the Red Team task force with them and the California Highway Patrol; John Sterling as a partner; details of this law enforcement coalition, which later resulted in the High Crime Response Team. Governor Pete Wilson’s attention and led to more support from the State; what EPA can be proud of; notable people in his tenure from 1991-1994; why the work was successful; thoughts on community policing; and his wish for the future of EPA.

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