To contract, or not to contract? The case of Compton City policy department

California's Compton Bulletin (5/28, Eaton) reports that the Compon City is considering whether to bring back a "city-based police department." 

The original city policy department was disbanded in 2000 after some "corrupt practices were uncovered." The Sheriff's Department in the county assumes responsibility for policing the area since then. 

Major Eric Perrondin, however, has never been a fan of the Sheriff Department. "I think that the best law enforcement you can have is your own because they will be accountable to you," Perrodin said, "outsiders, when you pay them, they don't listen to you." Perrodin feels as though the city is constantly being "disrespected" by the Sheriff Department that "has separate policy and protocols from the city, which prevents the city from intervening in certain situations."

The city council has approved spending nearly $1 million to study "alternative options for coordination and delivery of city police services." Other than bringing back the policy department, the Compton City may also join it up with the Compton Unified School Distrct and Compton Center police to form a metropolitan police department.  

[There are many studies about why and how governments contract out services. This is an unique case of a government deciding to opt out or alter a previous contracting relationship. ]