What is Contracting?
The Pierce County Sheriff's Department has been in the contracting business for over twenty years. Initially, the Department contracted with several cities in the County for jail services.
In 1996, the Department entered a new realm of contracting by providing police services two new formed cities for the provision of law enforcement services. Quite simply, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department provides fee based police services to city police agencies (and other entities) in the county. It is one of those 'win-win' ideas that illustrate effective and efficient government services by:
- The contracting agency (usually a city) gets top quality service at a reasonable cost, taking advantage of the 'economy of scale.'
- The contractor (PCSD) retains a large resource pool that enables the delivery of needed specialized services to the unincorporated areas of the county.
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The following two cities, with a combined population in excess of 50,000 residents, currently contract with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department for full law enforcement services:
In 1995, the City of University Place with a population of almost 30,000 residents, contracted with the Sheriff's Department for police services. Since that time, the contract has been extended and currently provides for 25 positions. The City has established their own identity through markings on the patrol cars.
In 1996, the City of Edgewood incorporated and contracted for police services with the Sheriff's Department. The City, with a population of approximately 10,000, currently contracts for six deputies, one detective and one Sergeant who is the 'Police Chief' for the City.
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PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY
In 2004, Pacific Lutheran University and the Department entered into an agreement to assign a Sergeant in the capacity of 'Campus Safety Director' to provide the day-to-day operations for campus safety and reporting to the Vice President of Student Life for work assignments. The intent is to provide an effective operating force of trained personnel to protect the University and its community from fire, theft, intrusion and other unlawful acts that disturb the peace or which place life and property in jeopardy.
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PIERCE TRANSIT
Pierce Transit and the Department entered into a contract in 2007 for the provision of one Sergeant as the Pierce Transit Deputy Chief, and seven deputies for the provision of law enforcement services that include a full-range of law enforcement activities in a transit environment. These activities include crime prevention, enforcement of laws and regulations relative to law enforcement and specific to transit policing and working in conjunction with Pierce Transit security and staff to ensure safety and security for Pierce Transit employees and riders. The system encompasses all of Pierce County and portions of Mason and Kitsap County.
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The Department provides several enhanced service contracts with several city police and other agencies in Pierce County:
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Specialized Services
These services are for Air Operations, SWAT, Marine Services, Dive Team, Investigations and Forensics. The cities may choose to contract on a per incident or per capita basis and may choose to contract for one, a portion or all of these services. The cities currently contracting for these services are: Fife, Fircrest, Sumner, Buckley, South Prairie, Ruston, and Gig Harbor.
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School Resource Officer Program
Bethel, Franklin Pierce, Peninsula and Puyallup School Districts contract for the services of School Resource Officers to work in these districts addressing issues of school safety and outreach to young people by the Sheriff's Department. There are currently eight School Resource Officers assigned to these various School Districts.
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Pierce County Alliance
Through a grant to address drug abuse, Pierce County Alliance has contracted for the service of a deputy to assist in monitoring program participants and administering sanctions including re-arrests and jail bookings.
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Marine Patrol
Tacoma Public Utilities contracts for the services of marine patrol during the summer months at Alder Lake Park.
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Over the past several years, incorporations and annexations have significantly changed the delivery of police service. Due to these changes, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department has changed its philosophy of providing police services to the citizens of Pierce County.
Many areas, such as University Place and Edgewood, already had strong community identity and decided to form their own cities. With the formation of these new cities and the enormous costs involved in starting a new police department, the Sheriff's Department realized the need to provide law enforcement services to these cities on a contract basis.
The Sheriff's Department continues to provide services to all unincorporated areas and to those cities who request our assistance. To meet the demands and challenges of existing contracts and to secure new contracts, the Contract Services Unit in the Sheriff's Department was established in April of 1998.
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The responsibilities of the Contract Services Unit include:
Customer Service
- Establish positive relationships with all contract city representatives and residents
- Assess and improve customer satisfaction levels
- Meet at least quarterly, or more frequently, with contract city representatives to insure communication, provide opportunities for feedback, etc.
- Prepare and distribute periodic reports to contract cities regarding service levels, contract compliance, etc.
- Identify, monitor and respond to potential risks that threaten contract stability
- Provide training on customer service, marketing, etc.
Marketing
- Develop and prepare innovative marketing proposals
- Attend existing and prospective contract City Council meetings to increase visibility, awareness of and sensitivity to city issues
- Promote Department image through gap analysis, periodic customer satisfaction surveys and dissemination of public information
- Identify funding sources to enhance marketing efforts
Contract Management
- Centralize all Department contract management, oversight and administration
- Develop data base of all Department contracts, including names, agency, terms, expiration dates, etc.
- Draft, negotiate, execute and monitor all contracts
- In concert with appropriate persons, insure timely processing of all billings and accounts receivable
- Provide staff training on contract conditions, compliance, etc.
Other
- Network with other public safety contracting agencies to share information, improve service, monitor industry trends, etc.
- Identify 'waterline' (negotiable/non-negotiable) issues
- Identify and market different types of Sheriff. s services
- Assist contract city chiefs with marketing, negotiations, customer service, and contract compliance
- Compile and maintain data necessary for all contract matters
- Facilitate policy and procedure development regarding contracting, regional services, etc.
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Please feel free to contact the Contract Unit at (253) 798-3430.
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