Board delays decision on armed security contracts for libraries, asks for social-worker plan

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 21 continued action on a proposed contracts package for armed security at county libraries, citing questions about alternatives and the balance between law enforcement and social-service responses.

Supervisor Hahn introduced a board letter seeking approval of multiple contracts to provide armed, on-call security at high-risk library locations. The contracts would be awarded to InterCon Security Services with a five-year potential aggregate value (board letter lists up to about $65.7 million over five years if fully deployed). For the near term the department estimated about $4 million in contract value to cover 25 high-risk libraries and said the county would save roughly $700,000 compared with prior sheriff-contracted services.

Why supervisors delayed the vote

Several supervisors pressed library officials on why the county is contracting armed guards rather than restoring social-worker or clinician teams that had previously supported library de-escalation and referral efforts. Library Director Skye Patrick said the department prefers social workers but lacks the in-house classification/management infrastructure and budget to run those contracts immediately; staff said the department has requested the positions and now has authority to manage social workers but also needs funding.

Supervisor Mitchell asked whether InterCon guards have de-escalation and implicit-bias training; library staff said the vendor has experience in library environments and provided examples of other library systems they serve. Several supervisors requested the underlying incident-report data used to designate locations as "high risk."

Board action

Supervisor Hahn moved and Supervisor Mitchell seconded a request to continue the item 2 weeks to allow the department to provide a report back (including cost comparisons and a plan to restore social-worker staffing and oversight). The board approved the two-week continuance unanimously. The library added that it intends to preserve staffing continuity by transitioning existing contracted staff into the new contract if the board approves at a later date.

What to watch

The department’s report back is due on a short timetable. Supervisors asked for details on incident-reporting trends, training for vendor staff, the specific cost trade-offs between armed guards and contracted social workers/clinicians, and proposed oversight to protect staff and library patrons.

Ending note

Supervisors emphasized they want to restore more social-service responses where feasible but need the department to show how those services can be implemented rapidly and sustainably before the board votes on a long-term contract.