Come July, Litchfield Park will have a new police services provider.
The Litchfield Park City Council voted unanimously in virtual special session Wednesday, April 7, to terminate its contract with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and directed City Manager Matthew Williams to begin negotiations with the city of Avondale to provide those services beginning July 1.
Mr. Williams recommended that the city change agencies based on a number of factors, including 10% annual increases for MCSO services; repeated complaints of unchecked speeding and street racing on Litchfield Road and Old Litchfield Road; a need for community policing and officers who are familiar with the city, its businesses and business owners; repeated turnover of MCSO deputies serving Litchfield Park; reluctance to enforce the city’s truck ordinance; slower response times within city limits when deputies are busy with calls in unincorporated areas; and a 70% drop in city court business since 2015.
