WHAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT CAN AND CANNOT DO, HOW TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT SUCH A CONTRACT, AND HOW TO USE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES TO MAKE SUCH A CONTRACT WORK ARE COVERED IN THIS MANAGEMENT MANUAL.
CONTRACT LAW ENFORCEMENT, A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM IN WHICH ONE GOVERNMENT ENTERS INTO A FORMAL, LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO ANOTHER GOVERNMENT FOR A FEE, IS A RAPIDLY GROWING AREA. THIS MANUAL IS BASED ON THE STUDY OF 114 SUCH CONTRACTS IN COMMUNITIES RANGING FROM LESS THAN 5000 POPULATION TO MORE THAN 20,000. MOST OF THE LARGER RECIPIENT COMMUNITIES ARE LOCATED IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, WHICH IS GIVEN SPECIAL ATTENTION AS THE ORIGINATING AGENCY OF CONTRACT LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS MANUAL COVERS OBTAINING LEGAL AUTHORIZATION FOR CONTRACTING, WRITING THE CONTRACT, ESTIMATING QUANTITY OF SERVICE NEEDED, PROVIDING FOR TEMPORARY INTERRUPTIONS IN SERVICE, ALLOCATING POLICY ROLES, MAINTAINING CONTROL OVER THE CONTRACTING AGENCY, ALLOCATING TORT LIABILITY, AND EVALUATING SERVICE DELIVERY. FINANCING IS DISCUSSED, INCLUDING ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN DIRECT PERSONNEL, FIELD EQUIPMENT, AND INDIRECT SUPPORT COSTS; HOW TO BREAK OUT COSTS ON AN HOURLY BASIS; FISCAL CONTROL PROCEDURES; AND OPPORTUNITIES TO OBTAIN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH LEAA ACTION GRANTS AND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT GRANTS. SPECIAL PROBLEMS FOR THE CONTRACTOR INCLUDE MOTIVATING DEPARTMENTAL PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT CONTRACTING, CHOOSING BETWEEN FIXED AND ROTATING ASSIGNMENTS IN THE CONTRACT AREA, PERSONNEL POLICIES FOR CONTRACT ASSIGNMENTS, AND MEETING FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS. A STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING A CONTRACT PROGRAM IS RECOMMENDED, BEGINNING WITH A FEASIBILITY STUDY. A JURISDICTION SHOULD THEN REQUEST PROPOSALS FOR CONTRACT SERVICES, DEVELOP THE PROPOSALS, SOLICIT CITIZEN SUPPORT, NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT, AND PROVIDE FOR SUPERVISION OF IMPLEMENTATION. CASE STUDIES ARE GIVEN OF 11 DIFFERENT CONTRACTS. TABLES AND NARRATIVE SUMMARIES DETAIL ESTIMATING PATROL REQUIREMENTS, USING A PATROL OFFICER AVAILABILITY WORKSHEET, ESTIMATING HOURLY TOTAL PATROL OFFICER COSTS, ESTIMATING HOURLY DIRECT PERSONNEL COSTS, AND ESTIMATING VEHICLE EXPENSES. A SAMPLE AGREEMENT FOR GENERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES IS INCLUDED.