Sheriff’s Deputies will be released from their jobs and Pitchess Detention Center will be run by a private corporation under a bold new City of Santa Clarita public-private partnership plan announced today, just days after the City wrested control of libraries from the County.
Under the plan, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will be released from its contract starting June 1, 2011, and Blackwater Security, a Virginia-based private security company, will patrol Santa Clarita’s streets and run its jails with the full force and authority of the law.
What’s more, the City says, the move will save Santa Clarita money.
“In our continuing effort to find performance improvements in this difficult time, we identified $450,000 the LASD was receiving but not investing back in the SCV. So we looked at alternatives that would save us money but also increase public safety” said City Manager Ken Pulskamp at a press conference with four Councilmembers.
Pulskamp cited an obscure state law that allows municipalities to fire sworn peace officers and hire private for-profit corporate security personnel instead.
Once the plan is implemented, Santa Claritans can expect to see results right away, City officials said.
“We looked at the juvenile arrest rate of the LASD and found it to be shockingly low. We are not getting bang for our buck people,” an excited Councilwoman Laurie Ender said. “Blackwater promises they can increase the performance of the Pitchess juvenile detention unit by a staggering 137% and their specialized ‘broom vehicles’ will sweep the homeless away much more efficiently than LASD,” she remarked.
Blackwater officials also attended the press conference and showed a video of their enhanced law enforcement vehicles, which will start patrolling SCV streets next summer. The massive SUVs -modified military HUMVEES- feature roof-mounted machine gun turrets, electrified armor, and spikey wheels that can puncture the tires of suspects fleeing black-clad security personnel. A front bumper-mounted razor-sharp plow, capable of pushing through and clearing crowds of protesters and other undesirables, is included at no additional charge.
“When we do things in Santa Clarita, it’s at the ‘Gold Standard’ level”, remarked Mayor Weste as she pointed to a sample vehicle’s gold trim package.
She added: “We all love and support our Deputies. No one is attacking them. We know they put their lives on the line for us everyday. But they’re just too expensive.”
As part of the deal, Blackwater will deploy armed Predator drone aircraft in the skies over the SCV, providing a 24/7 security blanket for Santa Claritans, offering enhanced service that the LASD couldn’t possibly match according to City officials.
The City's new Predator Drone, nicknamed "Two Gun Bill," will expand the number of hours SCVers are monitored from above by 200% officials said
“These land and air-based high performance assets coupled with our lethal security personnel who are ex-Military will deter and prevent crime substantially in Santa Clarita’s toughest, most gang-infested neighborhoods. Mark my words. The good people of Santa Clarita will be safe under our 24/7/365 crime protection performance guarantee, or else” said Erik Prince, Blackwater’s CEO.
Echoing her comments on the recent hostile takeover of the County-run library system, Councilwoman Marsha McLean said that while LASD Deputies were brave and honest law enforcement personnel, cracks were beginning to form. “Maybe you don’t see them now, but you will. Big cracks. Ziggy-zaggy cracks. Cracks that might break your mother’s back. Cracks so mighty they crack at the very foundation of Lady Justice!” she said.
Under the plan, the City of Santa Clarita will be entitled to various law enforcement revenues approved by the voters in the last several decades. The City said it hopes to buy out the current Sheriff’s Station on Magic Mountain Boulevard and convert it into a high-security, high-performing Santa Clarita Justice Fortress.
City critics immediately pounced on word of the announcement. ”What about unincorporated County residents? Who do they call in case of an emergency? What about service costs for regular citizens?” asked a concerned county resident.
Councilman Frank Ferry, a noted critic of unincorporated residents, told reporters that County residents should have thought about city boundaries and the LASD’s declining budget before they bought their home.
“Yeah, I don’t care if some County malcontent has a problem with Blackwater. We’re providing a warm security blanket for our residents, our City residents. Okay?” he said.
The City’s move to take over law enforcement was its most bold yet, but City officials said if successful, they would apply the same performance improvement model to electrical power, water, schools, sewers, trash, AYSO, the YMCA, the Red Cross, cable TV, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Hulu, YouTube, The Signal, KHTS, and the Internet.
