Date of Conferral
1-20-2025
Degree
Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Dr. Amin Asfari
Abstract
This professional administrative study (PAS) was developed to determine the feasibility of the client organization operating a small city police department or continuing with contracted police services by performing a fiscal trend analysis. The client organization’s law enforcement costs have risen significantly in the past decades and continue to rise. The fiscal trend analysis associated with operating a small city department was compared to those of three similar-sized California cities with small police departments. A fiscal trend analysis was completed using 10-year budget data from the client organization and three similar-sized California cities with small police departments. The fiscal analysis has shown that operational costs are less or slightly higher in two out of the three cities in California than in contract costs with the client organization. The study findings may assist the client organization in determining the best course of action to address expensive contracted law enforcement costs. Additionally, the implications for public administrative practice are that this study may support other similar-sized California cities whose leaders may be seeking alternatives to contract police services. Moreover, the findings of this study will positively impact social change by encouraging other California cities to consider the financial challenges and opportunities of operating police departments, which may result in enhanced police services and more affordable policing options for the communities.
Recommended Citation
Moore, Sean Martin, "The Feasibility of Operating a Small City Police Department: A Fiscal Trend Analysis" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 16858.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/16858
