Menifee, Murrieta to share police dispatch services

Pat Walsh addresses the audience during his introductory press conference in April. File photo

City of Menifee news release:

The Menifee Police Department took a huge step forward on Aug. 21 as the Menifee City Council approved the Dispatch Services Agreement between the City of Menifee and the City of Murrieta.

Murrieta had approved the agreement at its own City Council meeting the evening prior. The agreement stipulates that Murrieta’s existing dispatch center will provide dispatch services to the Menifee Police Department from July 1, 2020 through July 1, 2030.

The approval of the agreement is the latest major milestone during the formation of the Menifee Police Department. The first came in November of 2018, when the Menifee City Council passed a resolution directing and authorizing the formation of its municipal police department. In March of the following year, City Manager Armando Villa announced the appointment of the City’s first Chief of Police, Pat Walsh, marking another landmark decision in the formation process.

“Chief Walsh’s hiring was a big moment for the City and marked a major step toward the launch of the Menifee Police Department in July of 2020,” said Villa. “The approval of the dispatch agreement with the City of Murrieta is equally as momentous. This decision symbolizes the impeccable quality of public safety service that we are determined to deliver for our residents.”

As part of the agreement, Murrieta will add 12 new dispatchers to help handle the increase in service calls associated with the agreement. Equipment hardware and software costs, as well as dispatch center infrastructure costs, finance charges and other technology costs were also built into the agreement.

Chief Walsh spoke highly of Murrieta Police Chief Sean Hadden, who was in attendance, and his entire team while praising them for their cooperative negotiations during the contract process.

“We have a very strong, honest relationship with the Murrieta Police Department,” said Walsh. “That is going to be very helpful for our cities going forward.”

The hiring process for the Menifee Police Department is already underway, with applications for sworn officers having opened in August. The department plans to hire a total of 58 officers in advance of the July 2020 launch. Applications for professional positions are expected to open in January, 2020.

To learn more about the Menifee Police Department or to apply today, please visit www.MenifeePolice.org. To apply for future jobs at the dispatch center, please visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/murrieta.