Residents of Los Gatos and Saratoga expressed concerns regarding the financial costs and the use of automatic license plate readers following the initial review of a proposed law enforcement agreement. The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department and the city of Saratoga heard the proposed contract during council meetings held last week.
Although Saratoga recently renewed a five-year contract with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, that agreement allows either party to exit with one year’s written notice. The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department has proposed providing services to Saratoga starting October 1, 2027.
To prepare for this potential transition, the town engaged Meliora Public Safety Consulting and Matrix Consulting Group to develop a transition study and estimate costs. Police Chief Jamie Field stated that the partnership would allow Los Gatos to build a more resilient department while offering Saratoga access to a full-service municipal police force with local leadership and community engagement.
Field emphasized that the plan involves adding staffing and resources before assuming new responsibilities.
The expansion would require 16.5 additional full-time positions, including seven sworn officers and 9.5 support staff. This group would consist of four patrol officers, one motor officer, one school resource officer, one detective, and two community service officers. A captain liaison would represent Saratoga, and the city would be asked to provide a workspace for officers to meet residents and file reports.
Administrative Services Director Kristina Alfaro indicated the contract would cost $9.7 million annually. Saratoga would pay approximately $337,000 per year for 10 years to cover startup expenses such as hiring and consulting. The initial cost for the first nine months of service and startup recovery is estimated at $7.4 million.