Compton Council Debates Disbanding Police Department

Intensifying tensions between city officials and police, the Compton City Council debated behind closed doors Tuesday night whether to take steps toward disbanding its Police Department and contracting with the Sheriff’s Department.

The proposal would make Compton the Sheriff’s Department’s 41st--and largest--contract city, and would cost Compton $12 million per year.

Because tensions have escalated in recent months between the city and its police union, some Compton officers contend that politics has more to do with the contract proposal than serious law enforcement--or even financial concerns.

“Every time they’re upset at us, they start talking about the Sheriff’s Department,” said Ed Aguirre, a homicide detective and president of the Compton Police Officers Assn. “It’s sad that it’s come to this because of our mayor and our administrators.”

As City Council members met with Sheriff Lee Baca behind closed doors late into the night, about 50 Compton residents, most of whom oppose disbanding the department, waited outside.

“It is a sin and a shame,” said Gladys Russell, 73, a community activist. “This department is doing a magnificent job. They had problems, but they cleaned them up. And I haven’t seen the Sheriff’s Department clean up any place they’ve gone into. Lynwood is not good. All they do is run their problems out of Lynwood and into Compton.”

Problems between the city and its police force have flared since summer, when the chief and a captain were abruptly fired without public explanation. A new chief, considered to be close to the mayor and distrusted by the police union, was then put in place. The union responded with a vote of no confidence in the mayor and the city manager.

About two months ago, several union members, including Aguirre, were suspended after Mayor Omar Bradley said they disrupted a City Council meeting. Those officers denied that they caused the disruption.

Aside from the troubles between City Hall and its Police Department, some observers say financial concerns could be another reason to disband the Compton Police Department. It costs $19 million to $20 million per year to operate the department of about 130 officers.

Sheriff’s Department officials said they are proceeding with plans to provide law enforcement services to Compton without regard to potential political or financial issues.

“We’re doing this with the expectation that they are going to consider contracting with us,” said Assistant Sheriff Dennis Dahlman. “If there’s city politics being played, we’re not part of that.”

Under the proposal being considered Tuesday, the city would pay for a Sheriff’s Department captain to work full time exploring all facets of the contract, including the level of necessary service. Compton has more serious and violent crime per capita than surrounding communities, sheriff’s officials said.

The Sheriff’s Department probably would staff the city with 85 patrol deputies, along with support and supervisory employees.

The department would consider all of Compton’s officers for employment, examining issues such as rank, pay and, most important, whether the officers meet the Sheriff’s Department’s hiring standards.

Meanwhile, Jerry Lennon, attorney for the Compton police association, said it has “a contract, which runs through Dec. 31, 2001. If they say . . . some of these people are going to get laid off, then we’ve got a problem. We’ll go to court.”

Capt. John Radeleff, who oversees the contract law-enforcement bureau, said the Sheriff’s Department would spend between two and six months examining the city’s needs and would work with the community to identify problem areas.