Police

In 1925, the San Carlos Police consisted of one man: Ed Wheeler; today it has 53 dedicated men and women providing police service to the community. There are 36 Sworn in positions in the department, consisting of the Chief of Police, 3 Division Commanders, 5 Sergeants, and 27 Police Officers. The department is organized into 3 divisions, largest being Patrol Division which provides 24 hour uniformed patrol and traffic safety functions. They are backed up by the Detective Division, which has responsibility for investigation for all major crimes and coordination of prosecution of cases with the District Attorney's Office. The Administration Services Division is responsible for all record keeping functions, property and evidence control, purchasing, training and other personnel functions, as well as general support for the entire department.

The San Carlos Police Department meets or exceeds all of the requirements set by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training, and is proud of it’s reputation for service to community.

Fire

In 1925, when the San Carlos Fire Department was composed of volunteers, Ed Wheeler doubled as fire and Police Chief. In 1979, the City Of San Carlos and the Belmont Fire Protection District entered into a Joint Powers Agreement, and created the South County Fire Authority.

The department has five fire stations located throughout the district. Administrative and Fire Prevention Offices are located in San Carlos City Hall. South County Fire operates four engine companies, one aerial truck company, and a rescue company. The department is also responsible for the San Mateo County Hazardous Material Response Team.

The Fire Department personnel is composed of a Fire Chief, 5 Battalion Chiefs, 16 Captains, 39 Firefighters, 3 Fire Inspectors, 1 Supervisor of Office Services, and 2 Administrative Clerks.

Phone Company

In 1926, the phone company built an $11,000 building in the 500 block of Laurel Street. In that same year, Southern Pacific built a spur track servicing San Carlos.

Post Office

During that same period, 20-year-old Mary Kay Davis began the $60 per month job as San Carlos first postmaster. As a requirement for the job, Mrs. Davis had to provide a post office. Using money she and her husband had saved, she had a small post office built in front of her home in the 700 block of El Camino Real. As the population increased, the post office three times to larger quarters before settling at the present site, 809 Laurel Street.

1940 - 1950

Not until 1940, did San Carlos experience its first big spurt in population, with 3,520 residents. In 1944, Dalmo Victor established the cities first large electronics plant, followed soon after by Eitel McCullough.

Establishment of these two firms was a factor in the quadrupling of San Carlos population in the decade after 1940. In 1950, when the population was 14,371, the city boasted a total of 89 industries-wholesalers, manufactures and distributors-a variety of commodities from electronics to cosmetic. By 1958, the electronic industry comprises a substantial segment of the cities industrial area.

In the late 1940’s when Bayshore was a two-lane road, the San Carlos Airport was moved from its former location between Brittan and San Carlos Avenues to its present site. The airport was bought by the county from Cal West Yacht Harbor in 1964 for $990,000.