The city of San Jose is looking for a new police chief.  At a press conference Monday, Chris Moore announced he’s stepping down after about two years as chief and 30 years as an officer.

Moore has overseen a department wracked by ongoing city budget problems and acrimonious labor relations. He admitted frustration with the situation, but said he was not forced out.
 
"Certainly there’s a lot of factors that come into play when you decide to retire, " Moore said.  "Some of those have to do with...making sure you have quality time to deal with your family, and I’m going to do that with my family.  You look at the working environment. Although we’re in a tough situation, that was the case from day one. When I was appointed, it was no surprise we were facing an unprecedented budget deficit for our city."

Moore said his biggest regret is seeing a drop in the department’s officer-retention rate.  He’ll stay on until the end of January, as the city conducts a nationwide search for his successor. Mayor Chuck Reed was invited but did not attend the news conference, which was characterized by San Jose city manager Debra Figone as "last-minute."

Meanwhile, the San Jose City Council will hold a special session Tuesday evening to discuss the recent rise in crime. Major violent and property crime in San Jose is up 23 percent from last year. The council scheduled the session after a spike in homicides in late August.

A report from Chief Moore points out that crime rates fluctuate over time, and notes that it’s unclear if last month’s trend will continue for the rest of the year. The report also shows increased police response times in San Jose, due in part to layoffs, resignations, and retirements.

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