Change of Command

Already reeling from from the fallout from posted YouTube videos of a dance floor rumble, downtown San Jose’s beleaguered entertainment community was thrown another curve this week with the surprise reassignment of Lt. Larry McGrady to the East Side’s Foothill Division. McGrady had promoted communication and improved relations between the San Jose Police Department and Entertainment Zone operators since being appointed to oversee the district in December 2008. EZ’s prior head, Sgt. Brian Kneis, had been at the downtown post for three tumultuous years and retired from his position, which paid $147k in 2006, after McGrady was brought in to provide supervision.

Lt. Jeff Marozick will take over the Downtown Services Unit on September 23. Lieutenants serve at the pleasure of Chief Rob Davis and can be reassigned at his discretion, while lower-ranking sergeants remain at their posts longer, police sources say. McGrady’s appointment upgraded the downtown detail to lieutenant status, which will continue under Marozick.

In a June 2009 interview, McGrady said he hoped to create a family-friendly downtown and had made some “subtle changes to the way we do things.” Among the changes were reducing overtime and deploying officers in two-person teams to improve safety while halving the number of patrol cars on the street.

McGrady spent time getting to know owners of entertainment businesses and worked with them to solve problems. “It’s just simple communication,” he said. “I think they’re pleased with the openness.”

Leland C. Wilcox, the city’s Downtown Coordinator, took the unusual step of announcing Marozick’s appointment in an emailed message to club operators. “He has been a patrol officer in the downtown, was named “Officer of Year” in 1996 and has extensive experience in managing special events such as the Grand Prix, Amgen Tour of California and The Rock Roll ½ Marathon,” Wilcox wrote about Marozick.

McGrady, an avid cattle-roper, will go back to working days in the patrol unit. “He saved the city a lot of money” in lawsuits and overtime, one saddened club owner commented upon hearing the news.

The Fly is the valley’s longest running political column, written by Metro Silicon Valley staff, to provide a behind-the-scenes look at local politics. Fly accepts anonymous tips.

3 Comments

  1. WOW! Another blow to the already weak entertainment industry in Downtown.  All I can say is it has the smell of dirty politics. 

    If anyone should be reassigned is the Chief, maybe he should get out of his little office and come out and see, feel and hear the realities of our City and Downtown, maybe go for a drive out of his home in the Almaden Hills.

    To bad for real CHANGE.

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