Change for Compton Officers Stalled

LOS ANGELES — The union representing county sheriff’s deputies charged Tuesday that negotiations over the proposed merger of Compton police officers into the department have come to “a screeching halt,” allegedly because of “secret deals” made by the department.

The city of Compton has asked the Sheriff’s Department to draft a plan to provide law enforcement services. The Compton City Council still must vote on disbanding its police force, but discussions have begun between the department and the union on such a merger.

But in a letter to the Compton City Council, released on Tuesday, Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs President Roy Burns said the discussions went sour after union leaders heard the department allegedly promised Compton officers certain terms and conditions of their employment. The letter didn’t elaborate and union officials couldn’t be reached for further comment.

Sheriff’s Department spokesman Capt. Garry Leonard adamantly denied that the department would make any hidden arrangements to hire Compton officers.

“We don’t cut secret deals,” Leonard said. “When we get involved with contracting with a city that already has a police department, we do backgrounds [investigations] and we hire those that we can.”

Some community members in Compton have blasted city officials for proposing to disband its own department. Proponents, such as Compton Mayor Omar Bradley, have said they believe the Sheriff’s Department might provide more cost-effective law enforcement.