NW Arizona - El Mirage in the News

El Mirage faces public safety issues recently announcing that it will offer a $17,500 signing bonus to attract experienced officers to the city.  This all comes after the City Council voted last month not to extend its public safety services contract with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.  The council declined to renew the contract because the only option offered by the Sheriff's Office required the city to turn over all public safety services to the Sheriff's Office.  In an effort to recruit, raw recruits will receive a $3,000 signing bonus after academy completion but the city hopes to hire experienced lateral transfers which benefits taxpayers and also shortens the training periods.  The city also is looking for a police chief.  What is going to happen if the city has difficulty providing police services on its own because the department will not have enough manpower?