HOLLADAY — Police cars emblazoned with the green and white logo of Holladay — and absent sheriff's office placards — could rove the streets of this east-side suburb soon.

The change could occur during the 2010 budget cycle, if the City Council rejects a Salt Lake County sheriff's proposal and instead joins up with neighboring Cottonwood Heights for local police services.

City officials discussed the issue Thursday, a few weeks after hearing proposals — and heated critiques — from Cottonwood Heights police representatives and Salt Lake County Sheriff's Capt. Chris Bertram.

It all started when the Holladay City Council asked Cottonwood Heights to make a presentation, having closely watched as the city chose to create a new police department in 2008 rather than contracting with the sheriff's office.

Cottonwood Heights police and Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore offered to provide service for Holladay starting at about $3.2 million per year, exactly the amount currently paid to the sheriff's office. Holladay would get an assistant chief, plus the squad cars, guns and other assets obtained in the deal. Around $900,000 in start-up costs would be amortized over the first three years of the contract, according to the presentation.

If Holladay chooses to continue with the sheriff's office, it would get detective, patrol, narcotics and emergency coverage and "high quality of life," Bertram said. A report he submitted to the City Council touts 200-plus employees and dozens of patrol managers and dispatchers as benefits that come with contracting with the sheriff's office. In addition, Holladay would get 25 of its own full-time officers under the five-year contract.

Bertram's presentation attacked smaller departments, criticizing them for lack of experience and insufficient infrastructure, among other things. He alleged that Cottonwood Heights hides costs such as paid time off, dispatch services and officer bonuses.

Cottonwood Heights representatives vehemently deny any budgeting problems and say the switch allowing increased local control and budgetary oversight was worth it.

Bertram called the local-control argument "faulty" and said it is "absolutely untrue" that Holladay has been abandoned by sheriff's deputies when crime is occurring elsewhere in the county, as the city police department claims.

"Deputies assigned here work here, and they stay here," he said. "This is about quality of service, quality of life and great law enforcement services. We offer a better service."

Holladay would get even more control under a Unified Police District system, slated to launch later this year, Bertram said.

Beyond issues of local control, asset ownership and budgetary influence, Cullimore said, a contract between Cottonwood Heights and Holladay simply makes sense for geographic reasons.

The two cities are similar demographically and already share a municipal justice court and services such as street sweeping, he said.

The mayor's comments were mirrored by his hand-picked police chief, Robby Russo.

"They asked us for a proposal, and it's a natural fit," Russo said. "It would benefit both of us. We have nothing to lose."

The city will hold a public hearing on the matter at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 4580 S. 2350 East. The council could make a decision on police services as soon as July 9.

E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com