Mar 12, 2009 6:59 pm US/Pacific
The Scoop: Police and Sheriff Merger?
R.E. Graswich
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
When you call 911, who responds, the Sacramento Police Department, or the Sheriff's department? R.E. Graswich has the scoop on an idea that could ultimately lead to a department where either officer may come to your door:
A new way to save money is under discussion at the highest levels in Sacramento. Re-organize the Sacramento Police Department and merge them with the Sacramento County Sheriff's office.
I've talked to Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. They're open to the idea of a merger. I went to see what Sacramento Sheriff John McGinnis had to say.
We should note that there is some sharing going on right now between the Police and the Sheriff's office. Sheriff McGinnis explains those joint operations this way:
"there's a couple of programs that have been for many, many years sharing resources. S.W.A.T. does a very effective job of reciprocal arrangement which, if things go on too long if either SPD or the Sheriff's department has a barricaded subject that goes on too long and you have fatigue set in, the other jurisdiction will come in and relieve them."
A complete merger of the police department and the sheriff's office would take an election. I wanted to know what services could be merged without going to the voters.
There couldn't be a physical merger without a vote of the people. But does Sheriff McGinnis think that could be beneficial if there is the political will for all that? Would it be beneficial to put these agencies together?
"I think it would be absolutely beneficial," says McGinnis. "I think it makes all the sense in the world. Everything that has to be done, in terms of acquisition of fleet, negotiating contracts, facilities, everything that has to be done I think could be done in a more efficient manner if you're operating under one umbrella."
The union that represents the cops doesn't like the idea of a merger. They like to maintain their own authority and culture. Still, the idea of a merger between the Sheriff's department and the Police department could save you some money. It's an idea you're going to be hearing a lot more about.
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