Hawaiian Gardens Launches Police Force : Law enforcement: Mayor says the motive is safer streets. Critics say the city cannot afford it and call it a political ploy.

Hawaiian Gardens on Tuesday became the first Los Angeles County city in 25 years to launch its own police force, as leaders of this blue-collar town officially unveiled a new 20-officer department that will patrol streets known for rampant crime.

Residents of this mostly Latino community in the southeast corner of the county met their new officers during a balloon-filled ceremony that attracted state and federal law enforcement officials, including California Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren, who swore in the new corps.

“Some would say small communities such as Hawaiian Gardens are not capable of sustaining a police department,” said Lungren, who represented the city when he served in Congress in the 1980s. “As your former congressman, I’m here to help you prove the naysayers wrong.”

City officials say many residents supported establishing the Police Department, but the effort has met with resistance.

Critics say Hawaiian Gardens cannot afford the additional cost--the city will spend $2.1 million a year for its own department, $500,000 more than the county Sheriff’s Department had charged for patrol services. Some detractors say the effort to start the police force was a political ploy by Mayor Kathleen M. Navejas, who is seeking reelection Tuesday. She is one of five candidates vying for two City Council seats.

“We’re broke already, but we’re going to take on another expense. It’s ludicrous,” said Councilman Lupe Cabrera, who is often at odds with the mayor. “Everything she does is for political gain.”

Navejas said a utility users tax, which was expected to be approved Tuesday, will provide the extra funds necessary to pay the department’s bill. She says her support for the force is not politically motivated but comes from a desire to make the city safer.

“I’m putting my neck out on the line because I know the Police Department is in the best interest of the city,” Navejas said.

City officials said they created the force because they wanted more police on their streets. The city had shared sheriff’s services with Lakewood, Bellflower and Artesia.

“The biggest complaint was poor response time from the Sheriff’s Department,” Navejas said.

Sheriff’s officials said they provided excellent service and were disappointed when Hawaiian Gardens canceled its $1.6-million annual contract.

“We wish them success,” said Capt. Frank Vadurro, head of the Lakewood sheriff’s station. “Our concern is that the city of Hawaiian Gardens continues to get good police service like we provided.”

Tuesday’s festivities were more for show than anything else: The Police Department quietly began patrolling the city Feb. 10. The Sheriff’s Department had served Hawaiian Gardens since its incorporation 31 years ago. The last city in the county to form a police force was Bell Gardens in 1970.

The Hawaiian Gardens department includes 12 patrol officers, four sergeants, two detectives, one lieutenant and a chief. The police station is in a small shopping center on Carson Street.

The suburb of 14,000 people has been plagued in recent years by gang warfare, drug dealing and other crime. Neighborhoods are filled with dilapidated homes.

Officials say they already have noticed fewer people loitering on the streets in the three weeks since the department took over. “When I come home from meetings late at night, the streets are clear,” said Councilman Robert Canada.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

A New Beat Hawaiian Gardens has become the first city in the county in 25 yiears to launch its own police department. A new 20- officer force will now patrol the square- mile city that for three decades had been under the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.