Cudahy : County OKs Contract for Sheriff’s Patrol Services

Despite objections from some residents, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a contract between Cudahy and the Sheriff’s Department for law-enforcement services in the city.

Several Cudahy residents told the supervisors that they wanted the city to continue to contract for police services with neighboring Bell.

The Cudahy City Council voted 3 to 2 in September to end the Bell contract within 90 days and to sign a contract with the Sheriff’s Department.

“We wanted to vote. We feel the police was doing a good job. We don’t want this shoved down our throats,” Glenda Norwood said.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Ed Edelman told the group that the supervisors were responding to a request from Cudahy officials. “Your real issue here is with the City Council and mayor. If the city officials say they want the Sheriff’s Department to provide law enforcement, we’re not going to turn them down,” Edelman said.

Edelman suggested the Cudahy council appoint a citizen’s committee to monitor the sheriff’s service. Councilman John Robertson agreed to look into the matter.

Sheriff’s deputies will start patrolling Cudahy on Dec. 6. The Sheriff’s Department had patrolled Cudahy from 1960 until the City Council decided to sign a contract with Bell in 1974. Bell has patroled the city since 1974.

Cudahy is to pay the Sheriff’s Department $1.6 million a year, which is $118,174 more than it paid Bell.