Developing Alternative Revenues for Small California Law Enforcement by the Year 2002

• NCJ Number: 139150
• Author(s): J E Moilan
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 98 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: California Cmssn on Peace Officer Standards and Training
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; POST Media Distribution Ctr
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This futures study examines the potential impact of small California police agencies' providing private law- enforcement services as a means to generate alternative revenues by the year 2002.

Abstract

The specific issues examined are the level of community support as small California police agencies gain revenue by attempting to provide private law enforcement services and the impact such attempts will have on the police officers' association. To obtain information on the future, the study scanned periodicals for articles that may provide insight into the future. The information obtained suggests that pressure to reduce police budgets will continue into the future; violent crime will increase' unemployment for unskilled workers; drug and gang violence will increase in small cities; and there will be a larger number of people who will depend on tax revenues for subsistence. The second information source consisted of interviews with police chiefs and managers who currently contract out private law enforcement services. The third source of information was the use of the nominal group technique to select and forecast trends and events. The trends forecasted by the nominal group were property tax increases limited by current law provisions, the use of private security more often by citizens in smaller communities, an increase in violent crime, an increase in the commitment of the police chief to raise alternative funding, and more reactive police associations. Potential events that will impact the issue are citizen passage of a property tax cap, homeowner association contracts with security companies, police union job action due to officers' being forced to work private security, media stories on increasing violence, and the awarding of a security contract to the police by a school district. The study provides a strategic plan for addressing the issue as well as a transition management approach. The study concludes that alternative funding sources will be required for police agencies to perform their public functions and that communication regarding this issue must occur at all levels of the organization, such that the problem will be clearly seen and addressed by the whole department. Appended supplementary data, 5 tables, 25 notes, and 22-item bibliography