Sheriff's proposal is cheapest option for Half Moon Bay policing

 By Mike Rosenberg

mrosenberg@bayareanewsgroup.com

Posted: 03/17/2011 06:00:00 AM PDT

Updated: 03/17/2011 11:31:12 PM PDT

Debt-ravaged Half Moon Bay could save $900,000 to $1.2 million annually by scrapping its police force and letting either the county Sheriff's Office or Pacifica Police Department take over its law enforcement, plans released Thursday show.

Both agencies are trying to woo Half Moon Bay with a simple message: Let us take over your police department and we'll not only save you serious money -- we'll also improve your services.

Not surprisingly, the Peninsula's biggest police department, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, is the cheaper option. In a 22-page proposal, Sheriff Greg Munks contends his department could provide police services to Half Moon Bay for $2.4 million annually.

The Pacifica Police Department, meanwhile, says in a 43-page report that it would charge Half Moon Bay somewhere between $2.7 million and $3.3 million annually, depending on the level of service.

Currently, Half Moon Bay spends $3.6 million per year on its police department -- about 40 percent of its budget.

Officials say the money they save could be used for other services that have been neglected, such as street repairs.

Other cities, such as San Mateo, had considered submitting plans to Half Moon Bay but ultimately decided not to. Half Moon Bay City Manager Laura Snideman said the City Council on April 2 will start the process of figuring out whether to outsource its law enforcement and, if so, which agency to hand it over to.

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Posted by Steve Sinai