13 cities in Riverside County consider forming new police agency

Faced with rising costs for law enforcement, 13 Southern California cities are looking into whether it would be more economical to create their own police force.

The potential breakaway comes as cities in Riverside County, California, are struggling with climbing bills from the county Sheriff’s Department.

In May, the county approved a 7 percent increase in the contract and expects similar increases in the next couple of years.

Lake Elsinore City Manager Grant Yates told The Press-Enterprise in Riverside the increases are “scaring us all.”

Sheriff Stan Sniff says the increases are mainly due to higher labor costs.

Cities that could be part of the joint agency are Canyon Lake, Calimesa, Coachella, Eastvale, Indian Wells, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, La Quinta, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto and Temecula.