Budget Woes Force Half Moon Bay To Outsource Police Services

HALF MOON BAY (CBS/AP) – Half Moon Bay city will outsource its police services due to longstanding budget woes.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Half Moon Bay is disbanding its 12-member force and will outsource services to either the San Mateo Sheriff's Office or the Pacifica Police department.

Both agencies have offered jobs to the Half Moon Bay's officers, though they all may not work in the coastal city of about 13,000 residents.

Half Moon Bay Mayor Naomi Patridge told the newspaper that outsourcing the services enables them to stretch funds while maintaining the same level of protection. City officials say the $3.5 million police budget is 40 percent of its general-fund spending.

The relatively safe city averages about 17 violent crimes a year and there have been only two homicides in the past decade.

Both were solved.

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