City Councils OK COPS Spending Plans
City council members in La Habra and Lake Forest approved plans this week to spend their cities’ share of a $100-million state fund for front-line law enforcement services, while Dana Point officials set a public hearing for Tuesday to seek citizen input on whether to participate.
In July, the Legislature passed a bill creating the Citizens Option for Public Safety Program, known as COPS, which is providing $100 million statewide for front-line law enforcement services. Orange County is expected to receive $8.1 million of those funds.
La Habra expects to get $125,928, officials said at Thursday’s City Council meeting. Police Chief Steven H. Staveley said the money will be spent on mobile computer systems that will give officers immediate access to FBI data from the field.
Lake Forest council members this week backed a plan to use $90,000 of their city’s allocation to buy notebook computers for police officers. The rest of the city’s $138,000 share will be spent to buy a police motorcycle and to support community events.
“The laptops are going to provide greater efficiency,” Lake Forest Mayor Richard T. Dixon said. “We will be able to have deputies write reports at the scene.”
Dana Point’s chief of police services, Paul Ratchford, said his city is eligible for $84,000 of the state funds, which are being allocated based on population.
If the council votes to accept the funds, Ratchford said, he will suggest using the money mostly for equipment, including new patrol cars and laser radar guns.
The public hearing on the topic is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210. Information: (714) 248-9890.
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