216 Policemen Just Aren't Enough

Santa Monica already has too many police officers (216, more per capita than any other City in LA County). Yet, the call has gone out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office to provide for yet more police, at summer events such as the Twilight Concert Series near the pier.

Events drawing more than 20,000 people could require yet more police to manage them, City Officials said. So the City will write checks of $155,000 to the LA County Sheriff's Dept for each event (about what they pay one police officer for one year).

The new contract cannot exceed $1.3 million, City Staff assured. The contract is necessary because greater crowds are expected near the pier for events, because of the Metro Rail line opening next week.