Citizens Group Urges City to Set Up Police Force
A citizens group has submitted an initiative to the West Hollywood city clerk calling on the city to establish its own police force.
Organizers of the group, West Hollywood Citizens for Better Police Protection, hope to qualify for a special election next June. They will need to collect 3,152 signatures, or 15% of the city’s registered voters, according to Scott Martin, who is an election consultant to the city.
Members of the group plan to start collecting signatures by mid-December. They must get the required number by Jan. 30 to qualify for a June election, Martin said. Howard Armistead, the group’s co-chairman, said that a local police force would be more responsive to the city’s various groups.
Since incorporating seven years ago, West Hollywood has contracted with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement services.
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