San Mateo Deputy Police Chief Begins County Job This Week

After working at the San Mateo Police Department for nearly 30 years, the city's deputy police chief is making a career move to become the county's newest deputy manager, where he will focus on criminal justice issues.

"I've had an unbelievable career," Callagy, who's served as the deputy police chief for the past seven years, told San Mateo Patch in an interview Friday. "In a way I've always been a public servant and I always will be a public servant. There's nothing more rewarding than helping others."

Callagy quietly proved his point last August, when he saved man from drowning in the Merced River in Yosemite National Park while on a trip with his family.

Callagy and his wife and son were passing over a bridge on their bikes with some family friends when their son decided to cool off in the water for a minute. After he came out, the rest of the group pedaled ahead while Callagy's son put his socks and shoes back on.

That's when two men frantically ran past Callagy and his family, nearly knocking them off their bikes.

"My wife first heard that someone was drowning," Callagy said.

Without a moment's hesitation, Callagy dropped his backpack and bike, and dove into the river. The water was about 7 feet deep at the bank, Callagy estimated, and 8-10 feet in the center.

"I didn't even know who or what or why," Callagy said. "I just ran for the water and jumped in. Your training takes over, when you do that your whole life you're trained to react."

Callagy could tell that the man struggling in the water, who Callagy estimates was in his 60s, couldn't swim, and the other people with him didn't know how to save him.

"When I got to him again he had come up, and he was just going down again when I was able to pull him up and bring him to shore," Callagy said. "He was stunned. I think he was almost resolved to the fact that he wasn't going to make it."

The man and his family were extremely grateful, though they didn't speak much English, Callagy said, but the most rewarding part of the experience was that a young girl -- Callagy assumed the man's granddaughter -- came up to Callagy and thanked him after the ordeal.

There's no question Callagy saved the man's life, but he's quick to take too much credit for what happened.

"Anyone would have done the same thing, anyone in public safety," Callagy said.

Monday, Nov. 11, is his last day with the San Mateo Police Department after 29 and a half years. On Tuesday, he begins his new job as a deputy manager for San Mateo County.

"I think this is an outstanding opportunity for me to continue to serve the public and deal with some very important issues," Callagy said.

"Here I get an opportunity to work on re-alignment, which I'm passionate about, and I get to work with some of the great leaders in the county."