Half Moon Bay P.D. to Shut Down

04-03-11

According to http://www.sfgate.com/, the Half Moon Bay City Council voted Saturday to shut down it's police department and turn over it's police duties to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department.

The decision is blamed on a recent $18 million lawsuit settlement the city had to pay, the struggling economy, and sales tax revenue and tourism being down sharply. The voters also rejected a sales tax measure to help fund the department. The decision is expected to save the city $5o9,000.

The interim police chief, Lee Violett who works part-time because of budget cuts, said the city can't afford it's skeletal department of 12, which has no detectives, no one to ride it's two traffic enforcement motorcycles, and not enough time to patrol schools or work with the youth.

I used to say that I never thought I would see the day when police officers would be laid off. Then El Monte P.D. laid off 17 officers in 2008. Now an entire police department is being closed down because of fiscal issues. I fear this won't be the only city to have to make this decision. I'm told that West Covina P.D. is having to trim it's sworn personnel down to 90 officers from a high of over 120.