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Cerritos extends private patrol contract after reported drop in residential burglaries
Summary
Council approved a contract amendment to extend Southwest Patrol—s supplemental patrol service through the end of the fiscal year and a $205,200 budget transfer; staff said the program correlates with a sustained decline in residential burglaries and the vendor agreed to a reduced hourly rate.
The Cerritos City Council voted unanimously Oct. 13 to authorize a contract amendment extending supplemental patrol services with Southwest Patrol through the end of the fiscal year and to approve a $205,200 budget transfer to fund the extension.
Deputy City Manager Ryan Carey said Southwest Patrol provides high-visibility daytime patrols under an observe-and-report model in coordination with the Cerritos Sheriff—s Station. He reported a meaningful year-over-year drop in residential burglaries since the program began, noted the original contract expired in June and has continued month-to-month, and said Southwest Patrol agreed to reduce its hourly rate from $50 to $47.50 producing modest monthly savings.
Carey estimated the total projected cost of the extension at about $205,000 and told the council the expenditure will be fully offset by identified savings in the city—s sheriff contract, requiring no new ongoing funding.
Council members discussed patrol hours and the possibility of adjusting shifts to address nighttime car burglaries. Captain Drew Strong of the Cerritos Sheriff—s Station credited additional visible patrol resources, Neighborhood Watch reporting and quicker responses for a marked decline in residential burglaries, citing single-digit monthly counts since April and a sharp drop from double-digit months earlier in the year.
Council Member Pulido moved to authorize the city manager to execute the contract amendment and approve the budget transfer; the motion passed 5-0.
