Report 2016-111 Recommendation 11 Responses

Report 2016-111: City of Irwindale: It Must Exercise More Fiscal Responsibility Over Its Spending So That It Can Continue to Provide Core Services to Residents (Release Date: November 2016)

Recommendation #11 To: Irwindale, City of

To eliminate the need for police officer overtime, the city should evaluate the possibility of contracting for police services with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department or another law enforcement agency as an alternative to operating its own police department.

1-Year Agency Response

The City has analyzed the possibility of contracting with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for police services in previous years. It was determined that option would not be in the best interest of the City's residents.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Will Not Implement

The city's response is misleading. In 2009 the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (sheriff department) performed an initial study of the city's police department at the request of the city, resulting in a proposal to provide policing services to the city that would reduce its annual costs by 25 percent ($1.8 million at the time) and increase the number of sworn law enforcement personnel by 11 percent. Notwithstanding, the council did not vote to explore this opportunity further. We believe that the mayor's explanation for not pursuing the second phase of the study was contradicted by the sheriff's department proposal. Consequently, we believe the city should re-evaluate the possibility of contracting for police services as an alternative to operating its own police department.

6-Month Agency Response

The City has analyzed the possibility of contracting with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for police services in previous years. It was determined that option would not be in the best interest of the City's residents.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Will Not Implement

The city's response is misleading. In 2009 the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (sheriff department) performed an initial study of the city's police department at the request of the city, resulting in a proposal to provide policing services to the city that would reduce its annual costs by 25 percent ($1.8 million at the time) and increase the number of sworn law enforcement personnel by 11 percent. Notwithstanding, the council did not vote to explore this opportunity further. We believe that the mayor's explanation for not pursuing the second phase of the study were contradicted by the sheriff's department proposal. Consequently, we believe the city should re-evaluate the possibility of contracting for police services as an alternative to operating its own police department.

60-Day Agency Response

The City has analyzed the possibility of contracting with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for police services in previous years. and it was determined that was not in the best interest of the City's residents.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Will Not Implement

The city's response is misleading. In 2009 the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (sheriff department) performed an initial study of the city's police department at the request of the city, resulting in a proposal to provide policing services to the city that would reduce its annual costs by 25 percent ($1.8 million at the time) and increase the number of sworn law enforcement personnel by 11 percent. Notwithstanding, the council did not vote to explore this opportunity further. We believe that the mayor's explanation for not pursuing the second phase of the study were contradicted by the sheriff's department proposal. Consequently, we believe the city should re-evaluate the possibility of contracting for police services as an alternative to operating its own police department.

All Recommendations in 2016-111

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.