3 Cities Craft Plans for State COPS Funds

Officials in three cities proceeded this week with plans to spend their share of a $100-million state fund set up by the Legislature in January for the Citizens Option for Public Safety program, known as COPS.

The windfall was especially welcome in Buena Park, where the Police Department just last month slashed programs to help balance the city’s budget.

City Council members Monday accepted $169,169 in state funds that Police Chief Richard M. Tefank suggested using for equipment such as a fingerprint scanner, bulletproof vests and personal computers.

Funds are allocated to cities based on population, Tefank said.

He also proposed reinstating the popular Citizens Police Academy, which was cut from the budget last month, and starting a bicycle patrol and hiring part-time field assistants.

But council members said they are wary of starting new programs while facing growing budget deficits in the next few years.

In La Palma, which will get $36,068, the City Council voted to support Police Chief David S. Barr’s request for an automated property-evidence management system; an automated prisoner booking-processing system; and three video camera and recorder systems for police cars.

“Our goal is to use advances in technology to free up as much time as possible of front-line police-service personnel,” Barr said.

In San Juan Capistrano, the City Council agreed to use $67,478 in crime-fighting funds to hire an additional sheriff’s deputy.

Starting in January, the new officer will patrol the night shift from 4 p.m. to midnight, said Lt. Paul Sullivan, chief of police services. “Our highest calls for service are during the evening hours,” Sullivan said.

About $55,000 will be used for the deputy’s salary, with the rest going for training, benefits and other overhead, said Jennifer Murray, assistant to the city manager.