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Rancho Palos Verdes mayor outlines plan for in-house public safety division as LASD costs rise
Summary
Mayor Paul Seo said the city plans an in-house public safety division to offset rising costs of its contract with LASD, adding non-sworn public safety officers, a virtual deputy program, a camera subsidy and a neighborhood-watch sign-up to bolster patrols and emergency communications.
Mayor Paul Seo said Rancho Palos Verdes is moving to create an in-house public safety division to reduce reliance on its contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) and to bolster neighborhood safety.
"We have a contract with LASD. We don't have an in-house police force ... and we've realized through finance that every year, the contract is getting more and more expensive, and we can't sustain that," Seo said during the city's Earth Day mayoral update recorded April 22 at Ladera Linda Community Park. He said the in-house division would pull administrative tasks away from the sheriff's deputies so the department can focus on policing while city staff handle non-police duties.
The proposed structure includes a public-safety-division manager and trained, non-sworn public safety officers who would respond to non-emergent calls, provide additional "eyes and ears" on the street, support emergency management and contribute to data analytics and patrol coordination. "They're not peace officers," Seo said, adding the intent is to complement, not replace, LASD deputies.
Seo also described several programs meant to augment public safety: a monthly sheriff's station presence (often led by Captain Guerrero or other LASD staff at council meetings), a new virtual deputy program, and a city camera subsidy residents can apply for. "Neighborhood watch is very important," he said, noting the city recently posted a sign-up link after the April 21 council meeting to broaden volunteer coverage in neighborhoods.
The mayor framed the in-house division as a fiscal and operational response to rising contract costs rather than an immediate replacement of contracted law enforcement. He said the city will continue to work with LASD and emphasized basic precautions for residents amid continuing vehicle and residential burglaries: "Let's make sure we do the simple things that keep us out of trouble," Seo said.
No formal vote or ordinance was announced on the program during the update; Seo said the matter has been discussed at council meetings and with staff and is part of an ongoing process to balance public safety needs and the city's budget.
What happens next: the city will continue coordinating with LASD and city staff to refine roles and staffing for the public safety division and to promote the virtual deputy, camera subsidy and neighborhood-watch sign-up to residents.
