FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) - Fullerton may consider disbanding its police department to slash its budget, eliminating a century-old force that's under a cloud over the beating death of a homeless man.

The City Council may decide Tuesday night whether to ask the Orange County Sheriff's Department for a preliminary analysis - a first step toward a formal bid to take over police services.

The current police force has 144 officers and a budget of $37 million.

The department sparked a public outcry last year over the death of Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill transient who died after a videotaped confrontation.

In the wake of his death, two officers were criminally charged, three left the force, the police chief retired and three council members were recalled.

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.