SOUTH PASADENA : Police Seek to Bill Parents for ‘Baby-Sitting’ Arrestees

A proposed ordinance that would allow police to bill parents for “baby-sitting” their children when they are arrested and held in detention for more than an hour has been tentatively approved by the South Pasadena City Council.

Police Chief Tom Mahoney said the measure, approved 4 to 1, would allow his department to recoup the cost of supervising the youths while they await release to a parent or guardian. He said at least one officer is needed to supervise the juveniles, who, by law, must be placed in an unlocked room.

The proposed ordinance would set the fee at 150% of the salary for the officer or officers required to supervise the juvenile. The extra 50% charge would be for related administrative costs, Mahoney said.

The police chief said his department averages about one or two juvenile detentions per week, with an average holding time of two hours. Councilman Paul Zee dissented, saying the measure was not written clearly. A final vote is scheduled for Nov. 4.