The Artesia City Council voted 5‑0 on July 14 to approve a professional services agreement with Southwest Patrol for security guard services, authorizing the city manager to execute a contract not to exceed $300,000 for fiscal year 2025‑26. City staff said the contract will fund private, unarmed patrols to supplement sheriff’s deputies in areas south of the 91 Freeway and to provide additional nightly coverage while LASD resources remain constrained.

Why it matters: Council members framed the contract as an interim safety tool to increase visible enforcement presence in residential neighborhoods while deputies continue to cover the rest of the city. Deputies and city staff characterized private officers as "extra eyes and ears" who observe, record and report incidents to LASD; they do not have arrest powers.

Scope and hours: Staff reported that a prior short‑term deployment from June 20 to July 13 provided two unarmed security officers seven nights per week between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. That deployment provided visible presence on July 4 and produced four incident reports to LASD. Staff recommended, and council approved, an extension for the full fiscal year, with LASD advising the city to keep the same hours (6 p.m.–2 a.m.). The contract gives the city scheduling flexibility to alter deployment windows on 24‑hour notice to focus on neighborhoods, alleys or business districts as conditions change.

Performance and oversight: Staff told the Public Safety Commission that commissioners reported seeing a noticeable reduction in illegal fireworks activity during the July 4 period and that the private patrols were visible to residents. City staff said Southwest Patrol submitted four reports into a shared folder for LASD review; in some cases, video may support administrative citations to property owners. Staff proposed quarterly reports to the Public Safety Commission to review metrics and adjust deployment as needed.

Costs and fiscal context: The city presented the contract as budgeted in the adopted fiscal‑year 2025‑26 budget for up to $300,000. Staff noted that maintaining the two‑unit nightly deployment for the full year would be less than the $300,000 cap; the monthly rate is higher than a brief deployment cost but is intended to provide flexible, sustained coverage. Council members discussed tradeoffs — deputies have arrest power but are costly and constrained by staffing; private patrols provide visual deterrence and documentary evidence but cannot make arrests.

Council discussion and vote: Council members expressed public‑safety concerns and support for additional patrol presence. Some members asked for quantitative performance data and asked staff to monitor and report quarterly; staff agreed. The contract passed unanimously, and staff said services could resume immediately under the new agreement.

Ending note: City staff will provide quarterly performance reporting to the Public Safety Commission and maintain close coordination with LASD about deployment priorities and evidence collection for possible administrative citations or follow‑up investigations.