A REQUEST WAS MADE BY THE CITY OF GORDON TO THE LEAA FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AFTER RECOGNIZING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ASSOCIATED TECHNICAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES COULD POTENTIALLY BE IMPROVED IF CONSOLIDATED AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO STUDY THE LEGAL, ECONOMIC, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND PRACTICAL FEASIBILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSOLIDATION IN SHERIDAN COUNTY AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON POSSIBLE COSTS AND BENEFITS AND EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE CAPABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH CONSOLIDATED POLICING. THE CONSULTANT EMPLOYED A NUMBER OF DATA COLLECTION, ANALYTICAL, AND DEVELOPMENTAL TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING INTERVIEWS, AN EXAMINATION OF PERTINENT DOCUMENTS AND STATUTES, THE OBSERVATION OF PERSONNEL, AND MEETINGS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. FACTORS CONSIDERED TO HAVE AN IMPACT, EITHER POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY, ON THE POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CONSOLIDATED POLICE SERVICE WERE IDENTIFIED: CONCEPTUAL--POLICE CONSOLIDATION; LEGAL--CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTORY, AND ORDINANCE CONSIDERATIONS; GENERAL NATURE OF THE AREA--ITS ECONOMY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SERVICE POPULATION; AND ORGANIZATIONAL--RESOURCES, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES OF EXISTING POLICE AND SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS. STAFF RESOURCES, COMMUNICATIONS/RECORDS, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES WERE ANALYZED. IT IS APPARENT THAT COUNTYWIDE CONSOLIDATION IS BOTH FEASIBLE AND PRACTICAL. THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT EMBODIED IN THE REVIEWED STATUTES SUPPORTS THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF CONSOLIDATING POLICE AND SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS THROUGH A CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, BUSINESSMEN, AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO VOICED THEIR CONCERNS OVER THE STRUCTURE, CONTROL, AND OPERATION OF CONTRACTUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT IS NOT LIKELY THAT CONSOLIDATION WILL OCCUR. TO OVERCOME THESE CONCERNS AND THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF ORGANIZATIONAL CONSOLIDATION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT POLICE AND SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS BE REPLACED BY A SHERIDAN COUNTY REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. A LIST OF PERSONS INTERVIEWED IS APPENDED. POPULATION AND CRIME RATE DATA FOR THE AREA ARE TABULATED.