Area cities may merge police departments

By WIRE SERVICES

Story Created: Mar 12, 2010 at 1:06 PM PST

Story Updated: Mar 12, 2010 at 1:06 PM PST

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Maywood and Bell officials may merge their police departments to save money.
The cities are among a handful of smaller cities in southeast Los Angeles County considering the idea amid a climate of dwindling revenues, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Maywood is seeking $280,000 in federal funding to conduct a feasibility study of a multi-city police agency, the newspaper reported.

“Revenues are dwindling from the state, and safety costs are going up,” Angela Spaccia, Maywood’s interim city manager, told The Times. “If we can join services and reduce the costs, then we’ve helped both cities.”

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-East Los Angeles, whose district includes most of the southeast cities, is shepherding that request. A spokesperson, however, said Maywood was among nearly 200 cities competing for consideration.

The study also would examine the potential costs of dismantling the police departments and contracting with the Sheriff’s Department.

The Maywood Police Department also patrols the city of Cudahy under a contract with that city, but that contract has yet to be renewed for this year.

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