Increased Competition is the Key to Reining in Dublin’s Skyrocketing Police Costs
A leading factor in Dublin’s City budget woes is that police expenses have continued to skyrocket, while tax revenues have dropped precipitously. In order to balance its budget, the City of Dublin may have to pass a local tax eventually, if it cannot keep the cost of police services down. Dublin currently contracts with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office for police services, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has continued to pass along exponential cost increases to Dublin, seemingly without providing any additional services. One strategy to keep Alameda County’s pricing competitive is to allow police agencies in neighboring cities like Pleasanton and San Ramon, Sheriff’s Offices in other counties, and private armed security firms to bid on Dublin’s police services contract.
Private police forces have operated throughout the United States for decades. Many cities such as Portland, OR and New Orleans, LA have already augmented their existing police forces with armed private security guards. Former public police officers, military veterans, and other highly-trained individuals typically comprise these private armed forces. As recently as last year, the City of Oakland hired armed private security guards to patrol its most dangerous areas. According to the Wall Street Journal, while Oakland spends about $250K per year on each police officer, it only cost $200K per year for Oakland to hire four armed private guards.
The City of Dublin can potentially staff its police services with 75% private officers and 25% public officers from Alameda County. Under this model, the private officers would be responsible for patrolling and being first responders to crime scenes, while the Alameda County officers provide administrative support and specialized services. Assuming that the Alameda County officers are not permitted to work overtime, this strategy would reduce Dublin’s police services costs by up to 60% and still enable Dublin to maintain the same level of services currently afforded with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
Privatization of public safety does come with its own set of challenges and risks. Problems within the industry include the misuse of surveillance devices, the proliferation of weapons, and strained relationships between the public and private police officers.
Cities throughout the United States may see a significant number of highly-trained veterans and private security personnel looking for work, once President Obama pulls all the troops and contractors out of Iraq and Afghanistan. An increased supply of experienced and qualified candidates can lead to enhanced protection and balanced budgets for many Bay Area cities, including the City of Dublin. Of course, private security forces are not without drawbacks, so the City of Dublin will have to weigh all available options for police services carefully. Even if Dublin ultimately chooses not to change its primary police services provider, the process of an open request for proposal should motivate the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office to price its services more competitively.
10:39 AM on August 25th, 2010
A great idea! We need to be open-minded and creative to rein in the cost for public services.
1:50 PM on August 25th, 2010
The answer is drastic pension reform in California for all public employees. They should be on non-guaranteed 401k plans just like the rest of us peasants. However, with Brown and Whitman as our choices I don’t hold out any hope. California is doomed.
4:20 PM on August 25th, 2010
We need Gov. Christie in California!!!
2:29 PM on August 25th, 2010
Is it me, or does everyone see the local police spending what seems to be extra time on traffic patrol? I cringe to think that the city is paying someone that much money (up front and pension costs), to give out tickets for no license plate on front of their cars, expired plates,etc… Yeah, that’s still technically against-the-law, but do we really need to be paying so much money for that kind of patrolling?
I’d love to see the following brought to light: How many cases/tickets were dealt with in any particular month. Of those cases/tickets, break them all out— I’d be very curious to see the amount of tickets/time spent on slight speeding (5-10mph over limit), and vehicle code violations, compared to violent crime in Dublin….
6:38 PM on August 25th, 2010
I agree. Let us see how many traffic tickets were handed out, and how much $$ came in from those tickets. I bet its peanuts compared to the base salary the officers, let alone paying for the golden benefits. Its Dublin, not Downtown Oakland so other than writing tickets I do not see much action going on here.
12:37 PM on August 26th, 2010
A little bit of selection bias here … unless your neighbors like to the break the law often you probably won’t see the police routinely except when you drive by them during traffic stops. Your statement seems to imply we don’t need police – check crimereports.com for crime stats. Fees from tickets aren’t intended to fully fund the police force, if they were I am sure we would all love paying several thousand dollars for 5 mph over the limit.
9:22 AM on August 26th, 2010
Which laws should be enforced? Which violations of the law should be overlooked? Let’s ingore speeding, let’s ignore unregistered vehicles (Cities don’t need VLF), then we can ignore theft and assault if the victim isn’t hurt too bad. Keep going — which laws should be enforced and which should not be enforced?
9:59 AM on August 26th, 2010
Hi P – Dublin’s City Council has the ability to determine the scope of the armed private police services.
Thx, John Z.
9:28 AM on August 26th, 2010
Calls to 911 go to the PSAP which is currently Almeda County Sheriff Dispatch. With the private police force model this 911 infrastructure would still be used and a Sheriff contract cost would still exist. To replace this infrastructure with City-owned facilitities would be cost prohibitive. City does own the cars but County owns the radio infrastructure. I do not believe the savings would be as great as anticipated.
10:05 AM on August 26th, 2010
Hmm, does anyone else see a problem with having an active Police officer on our City Council?
10:26 AM on August 26th, 2010
P, you’re absolutely right.. In today’s economy, with plenty of money to go around and the governments doin’-just-fine, we really shouldn’t look at possibly saving some money for what turns out to be one of the largest costs for our city.. We should be giving these brave men and women $150K per year after retirement in the form of a guaranteed pension. That kind of thing always works out to help the city/county/state’s budgets and it the reason we have so much surplus of money at the moment.
I for one agree with you. I think our well-paid-but-deservedly-so officers in Dublin should beef up the expired-plates patrol.. Also, I think there are far too many people that are driving on our roads with inadequate tire pressure, which is putting the public in a lot of danger. I don’t want Dublin to be “Rocked” with fear as we drive around with these criminals on our streets, in their low-tire-pressure death traps. I would like to see the City set up a sting operation to catch these criminals who do not follow vehicle code- I don’t care if we have to pay double-overtime to do it, let’s get it done..
I’d even like MSNBC to come out and do a reality show, kinda like “Lockup” where they show the behind-the-scenes drama of a crime riddled life of low tire pressure. We can come up with a catchy name for the show:
1) Operation Hot Air
2) PSI Dublin (http://www.entertonement.com/clips/pndmzxvqkl–Yeah-CSI-Miami)
3) Unfulfilled Dreams (a Lifetime Original)
4) Blowin’ Up, the life and times of a thug in Dublin, who didn’t keep his tires inflated
5) The Whistle Don’t Go Woo Anymore for Bubb Rubb
12:23 PM on August 26th, 2010
Man, you are hilarious!!! I love the sense of humor.
12:37 PM on August 26th, 2010
That is pretty funny. PSI Dublin gets my vote.
Thx, John Z.
2:17 PM on August 26th, 2010
I miss Bubb Rubb and Lil Sis “Its just for decoration”
5:20 PM on August 26th, 2010
Haters!! You’re all so jealous!!
7:37 AM on August 27th, 2010
If we are going to rein in the cost of Police Services by Alameda County Sheriff lets also look at the rapidly rising costs of Fire Services provided by Alameda County Fire Department. At some point the City of Dublin can have local control AND provide these services for less
7:44 AM on August 27th, 2010
If we are going to rein in the rising cost of Police Services provided by Alameda County Sheriff we must also look at the skyrocketing costs for Fire Protection provided by the Alameda County Fire Department. At some point, the City of Dublin can provide these services for less AND have local control.
8:13 AM on September 10th, 2010
I wonder if you still feel that cops, firefighters, paramedics, other emergency personnel, and city workers are still grossly overpaid. Look at what happened last night in San Bruno. Look at what happened to Officer Todd Young. These people put their lives on the line every day never knowing if they are going to return home to their loved ones. It’s upsetting that you keep picking on them. You are too obsessed with this issue.
10:36 PM on October 22nd, 2010
I’m not a firefighter, a police officer, or a teacher. But I am a taxpayer, like everyone else.
If anyone feels these people are grossly overpaid, I suggest they consider this: are they willing to climb into the burning building, wear the bullet proof vest, or be held accountable to the next generation’s education?
Certain jobs deserve benefits that attract people willing to sacrifice. No I don’t like taxes, but I’m willing to support the people who are honorable enough to take these jobs.
But then there’s hiring it all out.
Armed security guards. So we pay an employee $12 per hour to shrug his shoulders because it’s not worth risking his life for his job, even though the guy/woman driving under the influence is headed straight for a residential neighborhood as school lets out.
Hire out the fire services with under-trained people (because training costs money, so we better cut costs.) Really? If you don’t care about the 3 minute response when *your* house goes up in flames, or knowing your responding firefighter is *not* paramedic trained while your toddler is choking to death, that might be ok with you.
We could just hire volunteers for the schools who could teach whatever’s in the book. (For anyone who has not taught in a classroom, I suggest they try it for a day.) Without that costly benefit package, teachers will show up for their daily abuse from parents and administrators because….why???? Of course they love children, but let’s get real. They deserve a decent retirement.
All these occupations do.
7:25 AM on August 27th, 2010
I got something better:
Livermore: SVU
Seen this arrest of Livermore soccer coach for child porn possession and distribution? First the cougar mom and now the soccer coach. I shudder to think what’s coming next. Guess where he’s held now? That’s right boys and girls. The pervert is now residing in Dublin.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15906063
9:45 AM on September 1st, 2010
“New trial date, judge for Livermore doctor accused of molesting patients”
With this latest headline from Livermore, I think we can all agree that Livermore is now a hot bed of sex crimes. Add that to all the prostitution busts we have at La Quinta in Dublin, perhaps we should extend the title to Tri-Valley: SVU.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_15952474
11:49 PM on October 22nd, 2010
Your Dublin Neighbor,
Your points are well taken, but why do you automatically assume that all policemen and firefighters in the public sector are hardworking, selfless, and proficient, while their counterparts in the private sector are lazy, greedy, and incompetent? Where is your data? If monetary incentive is truly the motivating factor for certain people to sign up for some of these professions in public safety, where does the notion of nobility come in? Wouldn’t the people who are willing to work for less and yet still put their lives on the line be more noble?
Remember, Dublin already contracts out its fire and police services to save money. A lot of the arguments you made against privatization have been used to stop cities like Dublin from contracting out fire and public services with the county. Perhaps in your world, there are different kinds of public safety professionals. On the very top are those policemen and fire fighters employed directly by the city. They are then followed by their counterparts at the County level. And on the very bottom are private contractors.
Is an all private force the answer? No, and I don’t think that’s John Z.’s point. I think in order to contain cost, we have to figure out how to have a system where there is true competition. If we continue to pay everyone beyond their market worth, there will come a day when we break the bank like Vallejo and be forced to go without these essential services. If it gets to that point, no one will be safe.