INGLEWOOD – The Inglewood city council increased its supplemental law enforcement services contract with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to $8.2 million during the July 12 regular city council meeting. The action also amended the FY 2021-2022 budget taking $1.4 milion from the reserves to fund the increase.
The City initially entered into the agreement with the Sheriff’s department July 30, 2021, during a special city council meeting held days before the city declared a fiscal emergency August 3, 2021 to provide services during special events and sporting events.
The contract was for $5 million with the staff report noting “Inglewood Police Department is able to provide sufficient levels of law enforcement for special events” however, the department has been hemorrhaging personnel since mid 2020.
The City and union representing the rank and file members of the department are not making headway on contract negotiations as raises, hero pay, and staffing levels continue to be a thorn in the City’s side.
Not taking into consideration the amount of internal strife that emanates from the police chief down.
A member of the public came to the council meeting to ask about staffing levels in the department with the mayor responding the man was “disturbed” as he questioned the agenda item increasing the Sheriff’s contract in excess of $3 million.
The general fund reserves continue to be the source of the funding with many wondering how the City burnt through $5 milion in less than a year on outside police services. This is in addition to the $2 million allocated for Hawthorne Police Department and $8 million for California Highway Patrol (CHP).
When asked directly how many sworn personnel are in Inglewood Police Department, the mayor declined to answer.
Nomination period to run for mayor and city council opens Monday, July 18.
