WASCO, Calif. -- For 28 years the Kern County Sheriff's Department has been protecting the city of Wasco, but that could change if the city decides to get its own police department.

City Manager Jim Zervis told ABC23 that as the city grows, city officials need to look at the city’s safety needs. That's why they've hired Arroyo Associates Incorporated to do a police services analysis.

Zervis said the sheriff's contract costs about $3 million and expires in June 2010. City officials said they hope the analysis will tell them if they should keep the sheriff's department, start their own police force or look into alternative services.

City officials said they have been working very closely with the sheriff’s department. They said officials with the department have been very cooperative and are fully aware of the city’s plans.

Although the process is still in its early stages, the sheriff's department said if the city of Wasco decides to start its own force, it will lose those funds and lay off those deputies.

One way to avoid the losses is to have the Board of Supervisors increase its general fund to keep those positions available. The second option is to move those deputies into positions that are left open when others retire.

City officials are now asking for public input about this topic. They are inviting residents to a public opinion meeting on Monday Nov. 16 at their Veterans Hall, located at 1201 Poplar Ave., starting at 6 p.m.

Officials hope to have the results of the analysis report to present to their city council by the end of January.