As one might think, there are a myriad of benefits associated with the merger of police agencies; but not everything goes as smoothly as planned, nor does it always operate in a uniform manner. This is especially true when a single agency deals with traffic problems for two separate communities. We've learned this since we consolidated the two police departments of Larkspur and Corte Madera in January 1980 to form the new entity -Twin Cities Police Department. We are a department of 31 sworn officers and ten and a half civilian employees. We serve a total population (shoppers, etc. excluded) of about 22,000 people residing in an eight square miles area located in the heart of Mann County.

When we merged we knew there would be difficult times. But we also knew we could provide both communities with better and broader police services at an overall reduced cost without sacrificing local control and responsiveness to individual community needs. We have been successful in those areas, but not without experiencing a little stress and a lot of frustration.

In December 1980 we were fortunate to implement one of the first Office of Traffic Safety grants for special Driving Under the Influence enforcement. We received $103,000 over a two year period for two officers, a traffic car, micro computer and miscellaneous equipment totally dedicated toward DUI enforcement. Both communities bought into this program and, in fact, picked up the total costs to continue the program once the grant ended in 1982. However, in 1983 Corte Madera reduced its priority for DUI enforcement within town limits.

For a variety or reasons Corte Madera, during its budget hearings, decided that a DUI specialty enforcement officer was not appropriate for operation in the community. The council still wanted arrests of drunk drivers but those arrests were to be made by the beat officers. It should be noted that the DUI officer made 60% of all drunk driving arrests within that community and we anticipated future arrests and revenues would drop accordingly - they did.

To accommodate Corte Madera's independent needs and desires it was necessary to reassign officers and adjust enforcement priorities. One officer remained on the night shift dedicated to DUI enforcement but only within Larkspur's city limits. The other DUI officer was assigned to the morning shift with directions to handle selective traffic enforcement and high visibility neighborhood patrol in Corte Madera. This change did meet the needs of both communities but it also had a negative impact on police morale.

However, recently the Corte Madera Town Council has changed its posture and priority on DUI enforcement and our specialty officers can, once again, operate in both communities.

Life After Consolidation

Our officers also enforce traffic and other ordinances from two separate Municipal Codes, one for Larkspur and the other for Corte Madera. Many ordinances are similar but many are not. Even those violations which are the same, or similar, have different code numbers for each violation. We hope, someday, to develop and have adopted a standard code for both communities for all traffic related matters.

Another area which makes traffic enforcement cumbersome for our officers is the fact that they must use three traffic citation books. Yes, three books!

One citation book is used only for parking violations. This citation format is simple with easy check-off boxes for violations and the city where revenues are directed. It is tied to a joint operation for parking citations countywide "Mann Parking Authority" where citations are processed through a data processing firm in the private sector.

Since we've pulled out of the County Municipal Court operation for processing parking citations we have experienced a substantial increase in the number of citations paid. We also receive periodic reports on our citations as they proceed through the system. Our moving misdemeanor citations are still processed through Municipal Court. This leads me to the necessity for two more citation books.

When we consolidated we contacted the Municipal Court Clerk to obtain permission from him and the judges to change our citation format. We wanted to design and number citations books as a Twin Cities single citation. We thought we could simply check a box to indicate which jurisdiction was to receive revenues for that citation. However, that was not to be. Word came back from the Clerk that our suggestion and the County's data processing were not compatible. Obviously this was a system where one must work within set programs, not a system suitable to adjust to the needs of the user. Thus, we still have a Larkspur tag book and Corte Madera book too.

We even thought of having all revenues return to the Twin Cities Police Authority but that, too, had too many obstacles.

We did not give up. There were changes made in the County Municipal Clerk's office and meetings with data processing personnel. As a result we will soon (once our citation stock is depleted) have a Twin Cities Police Authority citation book. Then we will only have to work with two citation books.

Last year during the budget review process I asked for a motorcycle to enhance our traffic enforcement and ability to respond through heavy traffic to emergency calls. Instead of receiving a motor unit I lost one sworn position. I am not sure I'll repeat that request this year.

One community was fairly supportive of a motorcycle concept to address traffic problems but the other city was not. All of the logical approaches and needs for a motor were accepted; however, the image of a motor officer was not acceptable. It did not fit with the desired small town image which is of importance to both communities.

These are actual problems and frustrations which an administrator and beat officers can experience when a single agency provides police and traffic services to more than one community. But, more important, are the positive aspects of consolidated services.

If we had not consolidated, I doubt whether either agency would have justified and established a true traffic bureau. We do have the ability to provide specialty services and broaden opportunities for officer growth, experience and training in traffic and other areas of police services.

THE SIREN is published annually, in the fall, by the Municipal Motorcycle Officers of California, a tax exempt, non-profit corporation. December 1984, 55th Year in Publication. Corporate Headquarters and mailing address: 14951 Califa Street, Van Nuys, California, 91411.

The Twin Cities Police Department is a full service police agency for the communities of Corte Madera and Larkspur in Marin County, California. The communities consolidated police services in 1980 after a year of planning. Working under a Joint Powers agreement forming the Twin Cities Police Authority, the Town of Corte Madera and City of Larkspur through two selected members from each Council form the Twin Cities Police Council to develop policy for the police authority. Overall management of the police authority is the function of the Management Committee comprised of the City and Town Managers. Operation function of the department is assigned to the Chief of Police.

A full text version of the Twin Cities Joint Power agreement is available online.