GROVER BEACH - With fire service in the Five Cities now under one authority, consolidation may soon come to the Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande police departments as well.
"We can maybe join forces, the police departments, where we can increase our service levels to the communities with additional staff, but yet reducing some of the administrative costs and some of the duplicated efforts, we reduce overall costs to both cities," says Jim Copsey, Grover Beach Chief of Police.
The Grover Beach City Council will discuss the matter on Tuesday, February 21st. The idea has been studied many times in the past. According to Copsey, it has the potential to benefit both cities.
"If we were to consolidate both law enforcements, which includes dispatch and would include dispatch to the fire authority, we're able to save anywhere from $70,000 a year to $450,000 a year."
Copsey also mentions that besides financial savings, service would also stand to increase significantly.
"We would have motor officers, increased traffic enforcement, as well as an increase in the level of detective division and canine officers, which would benefit both cities."
If consolidation is approved by both cities in the future, implementation could occur quickly, perhaps as soon half a year.
The Grover Beach City Council will also discuss consolidation of its dispatch services, which might be combined with Arroyo Grande or the County's Sheriff's Department.
