CONTRACTOR MIGHT HELP LAPD ANSWER CALLS.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

City officials on Tuesday began exploring the possibility of hiring a private company to handle nonemergency police calls so more uniformed officers could be put on the streets.

The City Council authorized requests for preliminary information from companies that could handle such a task. Officials said they didn't know of cities that handle nonemergency calls in that manner, although Los Angeles tried a six-month pilot program several years ago that was considered a success.

City officials think that allowing a private company to take minor reports over the phone could free up Los Angeles Police Department officers to fight crime, while providing more efficient service for city residents.

``This helps the public and frees up a tremendous number of officers for patrol,'' said Councilman Dennis Zine, a retired LAPD sergeant.

Workers for a contractor would take the report by telephone in, for example, an incident of minor property theft with no suspect description or other information for officers to immediately pursue an investigation.

Officials argue it could be more efficient to have a private company worker take the information by phone than to deploy a uniformed officer just to take a report.

The company could be located anywhere in the country, they said, and could be reached 24 hours a day through a toll-free number.

City officials did not have any cost estimate.

Laura Guglielmo, a senior administrative analyst with the City Administrative Office, said officials in other cities are waiting to see if Los Angeles explores such a program. Lacking precedent, she said, Los Angeles officials are moving cautiously: asking only for information, not bids, from companies that could provide the service.