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Morro Bay drops plan to outsource its police

August 10, 2016

Morro Bay Police Department

Following outcry from residents, the Morro Bay City Council unanimously voted down a proposal to outsource law enforcement duties to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. The city had considered disbanding its police department after a consultant suggested contracting out policing duties as a cost-cutting move.

Last year, Morro Bay officials commissioned a study of the city’s organization, management process and fiscal situation. Consulting firm Management Partners completed the study in May 2015 and delivered 65 recommendations, which city officials vowed to at least consider.

One of Management Partners’ recommendations was to obtain a proposal from the county sheriff’s office for providing law enforcement services to the city. The consulting firm also recommended the city contract most of its harbor department operations to a private harbor management company. Additionally, Manage Partners suggested the city gradually contract some of its firefighting duties to Cal Fire.

Last November, the council decided to wait until 2017 to formally consider contracting out police services. But, Morro Bay’s police chief and commander recently left the police department, prompting the city council to expedite a discussion on contracting out law enforcement services.

David Buckingham

David Buckingham

In July, City Manager David Buckingham announced city officials had already initiated talks with sheriff’s office. City officials also set parameters for the possible outsourcing of law enforcement services.

But, as Morro Bay residents protested the idea of disbanding the police department, city officials reversed course. In advance of Tuesday’s council meeting, Buckingham issued a staff report recommending the council not consider outsourcing law enforcement services for a minimum of five to 10 years.

Buckingham stated initial analysis indicated the city could save about $500,000 a year by contracting with the sheriff’s office. But, Morro Bay’s budget is currently balanced, and the city can continue providing its existing level of services for the next five to 10 years, Buckingham wrote.

On Tuesday, public speakers at the council meeting overwhelmingly opposed the plan to contract out police services. Residents also delivered a petition with more than 2,000 signatures in opposition to disbanding the police department.

Still, the city may considering outsourcing services in the future if its financial situation worsens.


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Did any of these cost cutting recommendations include admin salary cuts and departmental mergings to eliminate some admin positions?


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It is all a “cop” out.


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The last thing that needs to be done is to increase Mr. Parkinson’s kingdom/footprint.. I do not thing the people of Morro Bay would be impressed with the black Dodge Viper cruising their streets or Parkinson’s Navy docked at the Bay. Not until there is a civilian oversight committee with teeth. This is the same civil servant that threated to sue a local radio station if they criticized him.

M.B. police have a close local relationship with the people of M.B. its their town. Not a shift Rotation.


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It’s sad when the community has to educate our leadership on what we as residents value. Unfortunately we will most likely end up with the same group in power for 2 more years since the filing period closes Friday and no one seems to want to run against them. Red Davis is cut from the same group. His campaign slogan is “lets keep up the good work we’ve done the past 3 1/2 years” Well there you go. We get what we deserve. There is no trust in this council, especially if they stay in power.


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I wonder what Mr. Davis is referring to? The bike bridge that was initiated by a former council and city manager. Maybe he is talking about progress on the sewer – no that couldn’t be it. Maybe all the key staff that is there with high morale – nope. Maybe its the healthy reserves the city has – no they have been spent foolishly. I am betting all the money we saved on a contract city attorney, oops that position is costing $400K as compared to Mr. Schultz who at $180K, maybe the 4th of July event -no.. cancelled for two years now. How about the pocket park downtown – ahh, no, that was a big failure. hmmmmm, oh I know, I’ve got it – its the NEW city seal with the prominent sail boat instead of a fishing boat. Yeppers, congrats on that good work, looking forward to 3.5 more years of the same “good stuff”.


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The PD officers are bummed! They would have been incorporated into the SD and received substantial pay hikes over their current salaries.


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The fact that the idea was even seriously looked into by our elected and appointed officials should be reason enough to cast them out…silly people have silly ideas!


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Dump Buckingham! He has done nothing for Morro Bay and has been on the path of extorting citizens in the name of revitalization. His “vision” is a HOA playbook of saving us from ourselves via making us pay for permits for everything, along with fining us for violations such as leaving a garbage can out too long. He has been spending our money making himself a nest, surrounding himself with hired flunkies that add to the payroll burden of already overpaid city employees. He stands for everything Americans are fed up with. So far every idiotic game plan he musters up has been directed at picking our pockets and erasing the Morro Bay we love. The city council failed us big time by hiring a hot head who’s actions got him a golden handshake from the military after he went ballistic while on duty. So sick and tired of seeing this council try and remake our town into something it’s not. Their vision is not what the people want and the council has made it clear the do not have our best interests in mind.


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Dump Irons, Smukler and Johnson. They are the ones that hired this person. The other two continue to support him but aren’t up for re-election this time around. Then fire Buckingham!


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Well said.


The sad thing about the current council is THEY have THEIR vision of a future for MB, without regard to the history and very culture of the city.


Ironic they used to complain about the fictional “good ol’ boys” club and succesfully ousted them… yet they in reality are much worse in deed and action w regard to cronyism and private agendas than anything this city has ever seen.


Sad, sad, sad.


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Yeah, Pete Townsend said it best:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrdJ2pqlCNc


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Well said diamond Dave..plus Buckingham gets a hefty salary and only works 3 days a week. He needs to go!


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Thank God. Policing should stay local. You don’t want an out-sourced mercenary army overlording over your citizens. In this case, using the sheriff’s department would mean stretching resources. They already have a large area to cover.


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Not the most brilliant post ever. “mercenary army”? With attitudes like yours who would want to be a cop anyway?


It wouldn’t stretch the resources any thinner. The current MBPD officers would be incorporated into the SD and continue patrolling the city.


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As long as we have incorporated cities, they should have their own badge in law enforcement. Certainly the County Sheriffs can do it all so long as they are trained on the specifics for each city but that debated could go to State Troopers too. My take on cityhood is that their brand of law enforcement remain and other social services be funded by the county. This would keep a level playing field on welfare countywide and detour our county from becoming an attraction for migrants in search of freebies.


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