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Cerritos Council Extends Private Patrol Contract and Approves Funding to Hire Two Part‑Time Community Safety Officers
Summary
The council approved a contract extension with Southwest Patrol through June 30, 2025, and authorized budget amendments to fund two part‑time community safety officers and a vehicle, while staff will recruit and transition to city CSOs next fiscal year.
The Cerritos City Council voted unanimously Thursday to extend its contract with private security firm Southwest Patrol through June 30, 2025, and to fund two additional part‑time community safety officers (CSOs) and a new CSO vehicle.
Public Safety Manager Daryl Evans told the council the city initially authorized $140,400 for a pilot with Southwest Patrol after residents raised concerns about residential burglaries. Staff presented a cost comparison showing that maintaining Southwest Patrol at the current service level would cost roughly $312,000 annually, while hiring two part‑time city CSOs (35 hours/week each, including fringe) would cost about $201,669 a year. The proposal asked the council to authorize a $40,000 budget amendment to extend Southwest Patrol through the end of the fiscal year and to include $222,669 in the budget for hiring and equipping two part‑time CSOs, plus an estimated $68,000 to purchase and outfit an additional vehicle.
“Extending Southwest Patrol until the end of the fiscal year gives us time to recruit, hire and train two additional CSOs,” Evans said. “At the conclusion of the contract, staff anticipates supplanting Southwest Patrol with part‑time CSOs as directed by council.”
Councilmembers pressed staff on timing and implementation. City Manager Robert Lopez said recruitment and onboarding would take “several weeks at least,” but that work could begin immediately once the budget amendment is approved. Councilmember Sophia Sei urged that the hiring be treated urgently so the extra officers can begin patrols as soon as possible.
The council voted 5–0 to approve staff’s recommendation, directing the city manager to prepare and execute the necessary budget amendments and contract amendment with Southwest Patrol.
What happens next: Staff will post the CSO positions, begin recruitment and hiring, and return with implementation details as hires progress. The Southwest Patrol contract will remain in place until the city has onboarded the new CSOs or until the contract expiration on 06/30/2025.
