By Margie Plunkett
The Delray Beach City Commission’s decision to explore turning to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for police protection was dropped as quickly as it was launched early last month, deflated after the panel learned that seeking a quote would be a one-shot opportunity, among other drawbacks.
Mayor Woodie McDuffie relayed at an Aug. 10 meeting his discussion with Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, who said his team could put together a quote in time for this year’s budget approval. “He made this very clear: It’s a one-bite-at-the-apple deal. He’ll go through the process once only. If we say ‘no,’ it’s over,” the mayor said, adding, “We’re not ready for it at this moment.”
With budget constraints as the backdrop, commissioners moved at an Aug. 3 meeting to investigate whether there would be significant dollar savings from hiring the PBSO. The effort appeared weak-hearted from the start, as commissioners noted they felt a duty to explore the costs but strongly preferred keeping the Police Department under the city’s control. The issue is raised routinely by residents who say it could save millions of dollars, the panel said.
The mayor commented after City Manager David Harden implored commissioners to put off requesting a PBSO proposal until after completion of a Police Department Staffing and Deployment Study they just approved. “The results of that study would give us a data-driven service-level analysis on which to base our request to the sheriff for a proposal,” he said in a memo.
Harden also recommended holding a public hearing to determine the residents’ wishes before seeking the proposal. “Giving up a Police Department is an extremely serious decision with far-reaching consequences and implications,” the memo said.
Harden offered several other reasons to reconsider, beginning with “haste makes waste.” While Delray Beach wanted the PBSO proposal by late September, it took Greenacres eight months to get a completed proposal and Davie spent a year and a half evaluating whether to switch to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the memo said. “Staff believes it is impossible to obtain a thorough analysis of the costs involved in time to affect the FY 2011 budget.”
Some cities that have made the switch have experienced significantly higher costs rather than expected savings, Harden said. Cities often make the change when they’ve either had complaints about their police department or have hit the tax-rate ceiling of $10 per $1,000 of taxable property value.
There are also unexpected logistical consequences, including times when the PBSO has to sign off on ordinances, attorney Brian Shute said.
“Do you really want to give up your Police Department?” Harden asked, pointing out there are alternatives to contracting out all police services, including exploring savings from shared services — such as dispatch — with neighboring communities. “Once you give up (the Police Department), it’s almost impossible to recreate.”
The commission ultimately unanimously agreed it would not seek a PBSO proposal.
McDuffie expressed doubts that the city would have time to provide the info the Sheriff’s Office needs in time for a proposal to be submitted before budget approval. And the community is largely opposed to contracting out police services, according to the mayor: “It’s 100 percent against.”
“I’ve heard so many negative things about doing this, I personally want to take it off the table,” said Commissioner Fred Fetzer, who initiated the issue. “I don’t think it’s appropriate. I think the timing’s bad.”
“Our Police Department has a major identity,” said Commissioner Adam Frankel, and because officers are familiar faces, known in the community, they’re often able to resolve issues peacefully. To seek a sheriff’s proposal right now, he said, “in a rushed manner — I don’t think it serves anyone.”
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