COMPTON — In the face of some public opposition over a decision to spend nearly $20 million on activities that could lead to the re-establishment of the Compton Police Department, the city is moving forward with phase two of a feasibility study that — when completed — will determine the fate of law enforcement in the city.

On Nov. 17, former Compton Police chief Joseph T. Rouzan Jr. was authorized by the City Council to prepare an additional cost feasibility report that would give “a detailed analysis of the cost” of implementing Compton’s very own police department, said City Manager Charles Evans.

Rouzan’s report will give an “exact breakdown” of the expenditures needed to run the department, which were detailed in phase one of the report. The study will answer questions such as how much would it cost to buy police cars, how much would it cost to recruit officers and train them, and how much would it cost the City of Compton to supply an entirely new police department with state-of-the-art technology, said Evans.

In addition, the report will include “the steps necessary to develop recruiting programs aimed at attracting viable candidates considering careers in law enforcement and candidates already serving as peace officers; the time lines for recruiting, processing and certifying different levels of staffing police officers, both newly recruited and those already serving as peace officers;” states the staff report, “the estimated cost of recruiting officers including the cost of background reports required by California POST and the city; the availability and estimated cost of equipment, including weapons, uniforms, fully equipped vehicles and related materials that would be required for a city-operated police department; [and] the availability, cost and issues involved in locating a facility to process, house and train police officer candidates.”

Rouzan was awarded a $984,500 no-bid contract last May to conduct the study in two phases. The initial report, called the Compton Police Services Feasibility Study Group: Phase 1 — which was released in July and provided research and recommendations on community policing, accountability, fiscal responsibility, startup funding and an action plan — estimated the city could finance its own city-based department for $18 million or less annually. This would make available 85 officers, stated the report.

Further funds would be needed for startup costs, said the report in explaining the recent council decision to allocate nearly $20 million toward it.
Because the department would have to be built from the ground up, startup funds would go toward “securing transitionary headquarters and housing facilities; obtaining necessary equipment and supplies; recruiting and hiring of department administrative staff; recruiting and hiring of lateral police officers; recruiting, hiring and training of new police officers; and conducting community participation meetings and events,” as well as establishing communications and legal and support services, said Rouzan’s report.

But a number of residents believe the study may be flawed since the report was conducted by a former CPD member along with the aid of the city council; therefore posing a conflict of interest. They have too suggested that the findings may be inaccurate due to that conflict.

The first report by Rouzan is actually the second in five years. Prior to the failure of Measure D — an initiative that would have used taxpayer money to revive the CPD if it passed — the city council approved a $600,000 contract with outside agency Thompson, Cobb, Bazilio and Associates to determine what steps and how much money would be needed to re-launch the department.

According to their 2004 study, it would take between $21.6 and $25.9 million to launch a city-based police department that would provide the level of service currently being provided by the sheriff’s department and noted that inflation over time would cause that amount to fluctuate.

In its last year, the CPD is said to have had 150 sworn officers and 70 civilian employees at a cost of $18.9 million, including expenditures and capital needs. This suggests that the costs associated with bringing back the CPD — in 2009 dollars — would likely exceed the amount of the recent sheriff’s contract, which is now $16.9 million and expires in 2014.

This draws further worry in a cash-strapped city that recently announced a delay in the paying of its bills. But “I stated several times that if the economics don’t fit with bringing the Compton PD back, I would not support it,” Mayor Eric Perrodin said in July.

According to Evans, the council is trying to make an educated decision on what is best for the city. “They could have looked at phase one and said ‘We know enough,’” he said. “But the idea is they need to make an informed decision.”

When asked when the second phase will be complete, Evans said, “however long it takes, it takes. But this is it, once the phase is completed, council will have enough data and information and make a decision as to what they want to do.”

As for the possibility of terminating the city’s contract with the Sheriff’s department earlier than the set date, he said, not likely. Terms of the current agreement allow the cancellation of the contract within 60 days of its anniversary date or 60 days prior to a rate increase. With 180 days notice, either party can terminate the contract for any reason. If the council decided to upstart the CPD, the report by Rouzan estimates that process could take up to two years.

“The implementation from the original analysis is about a two year process anyway,” said Evans. “So no matter what they decide we believe the sheriff will be here for a while.”