NRLEA

Pomona considering using sheriff’s office to provide police services

Posted by NRLEA under Latest News

San Gabriel Valley Tribune
By James Wagner Staff Writer

POMONA – Like Diamond Bar, Walnut and San Dimas, the city is considering using county sheriff’s deputies to provide police service in its 154,000-resident city.

In order to address budget concerns, the Pomona City Council voted unanimously Monday night to ask the sheriff’s department for a preliminary study of costs.

While local officials couldn’t say how using deputies in Pomona would affect neighboring communities, they said the sheriff’s office provides good service at a good price.

Walnut Mayor Tom King said he is happy with the city’s contract with the sheriff’s department.  “I know that we found it be a better bargain for our tax payers,” he said.  But a city has to weigh all of its options, he said.  “Local control of a police agency is certainly a factor,” he said.

The Walnut/Diamond Bar station serves both cities and unincorporated Rowland Heights, covering an area of over 45 square miles.  It’s only a mile from the Pomona border, but officials insisted that Pomona would not drain resources from the two smaller cities.

Based on the size of the 170-officer Pomona police department, that city’s deputies would likely be housed in a stand-alone station, said Capt. Bruce Foggarty, who heads the sheriff’s Contract Law Enforcement unit.  “We build a model that we think that we would police the city at that level,” Foggarty said.

Pomona’s voters will ultimately have to decide whether to keep a police department or contract with the sheriff. For many local cities, the sheriff’s department is a relatively inexpensive option for law enforcement.

In general, cities can save about 10 percent to 15 percent by using deputies for police service, according to data from cities that contract service from the sheriff.

Diamond Bar, with 58,000 residents, paid $5.3 million this year for sheriff’s service, city officials said.  By comparison, La Verne, population 33,300, pays $11.5 million for its police department.

Staff Writer Monica Rodgriguez contributed to this story
james.wagner@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2236
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