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Cerritos council extends Southwest Patrol contract and funds two part‑time community safety officers
Summary
On April 10 the Cerritos City Council authorized a contract extension with Southwest Patrol through the end of the fiscal year, and approved funding to hire two part‑time community safety officers and purchase a vehicle to support the program. The vote was unanimous, 5–0.
The Cerritos City Council on April 10 voted to extend the city’s supplemental patrol contract with Southwest Patrol through June 30, 2025, and to fund two additional part‑time community safety officers (CSOs) plus a vehicle to bolster residential patrols.
Council members said the measure is intended to maintain patrol coverage while the city recruits and trains the planned CSO hires. Public Safety Manager Daryl Evans told the council the extension would cost an additional $40,000 beyond the program’s initial authorization and explained hourly rates for unarmed guards: “The fiscal cost for this is $50 an hour for unarmed security guards, and that price increases to $75 an hour when they're working during the holidays.”
Why it matters: Staff recommended the extension so there would be no service gap while the city completes recruitment for two part‑time CSOs. Evans provided the city’s cost comparison: a part‑time CSO working 35 hours per week, including fringe, is estimated at $100,835 annually; two such positions total $201,669 per year. Extending Southwest Patrol through the fiscal year at the current level was estimated at about $312,000 annually. Council also authorized purchase of one additional CSO vehicle and related equipment, budgeted at approximately $68,000.
What the council voted: Council member Sophia Se moved to approve the staff recommendation and Mayor Pro Tem Linda Johnson seconded. The motion passed 5–0. City staff said hiring can begin once the budget amendment is in place; the extension gives staff several weeks to complete recruitment and training.
Details and next steps: The contract with Southwest Patrol was originally authorized in December 2024 as a pilot to reduce residential burglaries. City staff recommended (1) a $40,000 budget amendment to extend the Southwest Patrol contract to June 30, 2025; (2) a formal amendment with Southwest Patrol to provide services through the fiscal year; (3) funding of $222,669 (note: transcript figure cited $201,669 for two part‑time CSOs; staff packaged related costs) to hire and equip two part‑time CSOs; and (4) a budget amendment for a CSO vehicle ($68,000). Council directed staff to proceed; staff said they would notify the council once recruitment progresses and when the new CSOs would be deployed.
Quotes: Public Safety Manager Daryl Evans: “The cost for a part time CSO working 35 hours a week, including fringe benefits, is $100,835 annually.”
Speakers included: Public Safety Manager Daryl Evans; City Manager Robert Lopez; Council Member Sophia Se (mover); Mayor Pro Tem Linda Johnson (second); Mayor Frank Yokoyama; Council Members Mark Pulido and Mark Polito; Council Member Jennifer Hong.
Ending: Staff will return with recruitment and implementation timelines and will proceed with the contract amendment and vehicle purchase after the council’s budget authorization.
