Between now and June 2019,private security teams will patrol City of Tempe parks that have experienced higher calls for service and resident complaints about litter, disruptive conduct, off-leash animals and other issues.
The $250,000 cost of the two-person private security teams pilot program was approved by the Tempe City Council at last night’s Regular Council Meeting.
The current city contract with private security firm G4S will be used to select trained, certified G4S guards for the parks assignment.
The program will use G4S personnel for security services just as it does at the Tempe Public Library, Escalante Community Center, Tempe City Hall and Tempe Municipal Court.
The program has started in Clark and Hudson parks and will soon expand to other city parks on a rotating basis.
G4S parks patrol personnel – like all Tempe Police officers – will be trained in how to communicate with and de-escalate situations involving individuals who may be affected by mental illness.
Tempe spends more on human services per capita than any other city in the East Valley.