Anti-Police Politicians Now Desperate for More Law Enforcement. Realizing that a shrunken Port Townsend Police Department can’t protect the city, City Council approved an agreement with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to rent deputies and their equipment. The city will pay significantly more than it would for a fully staffed police department. The annualized cost of a rented deputy and his equipment comes to around $200,000. But, according to the mayor — who spearheaded recent anti-police actions of council — this is “the reality of a tough situation. We’ve gotta do what we’ve gotta do.” Even if it means breaking the city’s budget.
In the past eighteen months or so, the city has lost more than half its police department to transfers to other agencies, resignations, and opting for retirement. It lost another officer just last week. How did Port Townsend so quickly lose so many valuable, highly trained personnel? Not one of the City Councilors bothered to ask.
A Grim Assessment
At its March 21, 2022, business meeting council heard from Chief Tom Olson that the skeleton crew of officers are being forced to work overtime in order to maintain at least one officer on duty 24/7. City Manager John Mauro stated that having just one officer on duty is “becoming very, very challenging.” In order to maintain minimal yet admittedly inadequate and unsafe coverage, the department has “greatly reduced,” as Mauro put it, services the police department normally provides. Chief Olson anticipates that it will take 12-18 months to get to “where our staffing levels are much closer to where they need to be.”
The Sheriff has in the past helped fill occasional gaps in PT’s patrols but has not been called upon to make up for anything like a greater than 50% shortfall in PTPD’s roster. The agreement approved by council is a renewal, but more costly renewal of the pre-existing arrangement. Neither the city manager nor the finance director was able to answer questions from council members on how much more this pricey arrangement will cost than had been budgeted for a police department staffed with 15 regularly employed officers in city vehicles.
Port Townsend Police Chief Tom Olson
Chief Olson could only predict that it was going to cost “a lot more.” This means the city will exceed its 2022 budget for law enforcement and will have to take the money from elsewhere. City Councilor Libby Urner Wennstrom called this “going into debt.” (To her credit, she recently did a ride-along and found she was patrolling the city with the only officer on duty that night.)
The $200,000 annualized figure was calculated by Mayor David Faber using the $93.34/hour “fully loaded” rate the city will pay for use of county deputies. “Fully loaded” includes the deputies’ rate of pay under their most recent union contract, and also the cost of their equipment, including their vehicle, and county overhead. On holidays, the “fully loaded” rate jumps to $121.63/hr. The figures Faber used are available in this staff briefing for council.
Why Has the City Lost More Than Half Its Police Department?
City councilors did not ask this question. The answer points at them.
In the summer of 2020, City Council launched what many members of the police department and surrounding law enforcement agencies viewed as a hostile and unfair “review”. It was clearly a pretext for anti-law enforcement measures council members openly discussed. The former mayor hoped — it was that obvious — for evidence that she thought would show bias by law enforcement against minorities. (The evidence was not there, though she kept seeking it.) The current mayor Faber, then a member of council, proposed disarming police by requiring them to lock their weapons in the trunks of their patrol vehicles. The current mayor initially sought to strip officers of their qualified immunity, meaning they would lose insurance coverage for even good faith mistakes made in a high-stress, high-risk situation, thus exposing themselves and their families to the ruinous costs of litigation and possible judgments. Other officials, like city councilors, would retain their qualified immunity and insurance coverage, even for acts of gross negligence, such as approving the Cherry Street Project. See “City Council Threatens Port Townsend’s Public Safety,” PTFP 7/29/20. (Former Chief Surber and his staff did a brilliant job fending off this attack on the department by convincing council that PTPD was already the most “progressive” department around.)
During 2020 elected officials in the city and county enabled and encouraged efforts to humiliate and disparage local law enforcement personnel. See “Reckoning with ‘The Reckoning,‘” PTFP 8/3/20 and “Black Lives Matter Sought to Humiliate Sheriff, Police Chief,” PTFP, 9/25/20. Anti-police protestors requested a police escort for their march down Sims Way and Water Street. Was this to humiliate police? Their motives were unclear and contradictory. The city gave them preferential treatment and police stood guard as marchers with “ACAB” (All cops are bastards) placards passed by. The leader of the event, a man known to law enforcement because of his long police record (including stealing a truck followed by a high-speed chase, followed by hitting a horse) was the keynote speaker. He was applauded by city leaders. That speech repeated numerous lies and baseless attacks on police in general. Ironically, this man’s life was saved by one of the law enforcement personnel he attacked in statements to The Leader. Unfortunately, due to threats and harassment of herself and her employer, a member of this law enforcement officer’s family was driven out the city where she had grown up.
The city’s anti-police animus continued through 2020. The city broke its own laws to rush through painting of “Black Lives Matter” on Water Street but rebuffed a request to honor law enforcement with a similar street painting.
In the face of this official hostility towards their husbands, fathers and sons, wives and mothers of local law enforcement officers organized what proved to be a massive “Back the Blue Rally” that attracted around 400 cars, truck and motorcycles. Instead of offering support, city officials and leaders (including the current mayor) were furious. It was reported to this author that the city manager was overheard yelling at the former police chief and demanding that charges be filed against the organizers — the wives, mothers and daughters of officers and deputies. As reported to me, the former chief stood his ground because the rally organizers and participants had broken no laws. (Laws were broken by anti-police protestors who blocked Water Street to interrupt the rally, but no charges against them were ever lodged.)
City council in their anti-police fervor was bent on eliminating the school resource officer. Why? Because they objected on ideological grounds to police in schools. The Port Townsend High School principal had to plead with them to keep the valued and beloved officer in her hallways. “PTHS Principal Tells City Council to Keep Police in Her School,“ PTFP, 9/28/20. (That particular officer has since left the Port Townsend Police Department.)
In September 2020 first responders had to fight the city to commemorate the sacrifice of firemen and police officers who died rushing into the Twin Towers on 9/11. Since 2002, they had been ringing the old fire bell at the hour when the planes hit the Twin Towers. This was the first time they had ever been denied permission to hold their modest ceremony.
In 2020, Officer Mark DuMond sustained such severe head injuries in the course of protecting a nurse at the hospital he was incapable of continuing to work as a police officer. While he was honored by the department and awarded two rare departmental Purple Hearts for lives he saved, city council telegraphed its hostility toward law enforcement, or at least its indifference to DuMond’s sacrifice, by doing nothing to recognize his suffering and service to the city. See “The Violence that Cost Port Townsend a Man Who Saves Lives,” PTFP, 12/6/20.
But now city leaders are concerned they don’t have enough police on the streets and are so desperate they will break the city’s budget to rent law enforcement services from the Sheriff.
Mayor David Faber blamed the alarming contraction of the police force on difficulties for new hires finding housing. Chief Olsen said nothing about qualified officers turning down job offers due to housing concerns; Faber resorted to what is becoming the go-to cause of every problem in the city, true or not. In this case it is not true. It does not explain why so many good officers — who already had housing — left the force in such a relatively short period of time.
Faber failed to acknowledge his own contribution to the city’s dilemma. Who wants to work for a city that treats police so badly? That city will likely hang you out to dry when it suits them. Chief Olson said he has not been able to hire the kind of people who meet his standards. Other communities are also looking for men and women who can fill the holes in their police rosters. Officers can choose a community that appreciates their professionalism and sacrifice, or they can work for a city administration that recently talked about disarming them and exposing them to personal ruin.
Communities across Washington state are finding it difficult to hire police due to the “police reforms” passed by the Legislature, measures that amount to little more than handcuffing police and giving criminals “drive away free cards.” Men and women who want to protect and serve can find better places to risk their lives.
Not long ago, PT City Council and its current mayor were talking about a smaller police force. They thought that turning against law enforcement was the smart political move. It certainly played well to the angry mob. Now taxpayers must pick up the tab, yet again, for the costs of council’s irresponsibility and ideological foolishness.
Jim Scarantino was the editor and founder of Port Townsend Free Press. He is happy in his new role as just a contributor writing on topics of concern to him. He spent the first 25 years of his professional life as a trial attorney, then launched an online investigative news website that broke several national stories. He is also the author of three crime novels. He resides in Jefferson County. See our "About" page for more information.
Disband the Port Townsend Police and use that funding to expand the Jefferson County Sheriff’s operation. Not an original idea. Has been done many places around the country. The Port Townsend City Council isn’t even fit for ceremonial purposes let alone dealing with law enforcement.
I support a fully staffed Port Townsend police department. When the current crime wave concentrates in our city, you will see those against police suddenly crying out for protection. Let’s not even have those thoughts or conversations. Just staff the police now.
Good article. Just shows, that the Democrats, who support so many bad ideas like CRT, Socialism, Sex Education for preschoolers and defunding the police are out-of-touch with the people.
If Port Townsend is so “small”, maybe we should just eliminate all the departments in City Hall and have all operations transferred to the County. Think of all the money they would save on salaries and other personnel expenses. We could also eliminate the City Council members which have done nothing beneficial for the community in the past 20 years. The way Port Townsend has treated their police and law enforcement in general is a disgrace.
Agree with Trish!
I wonder if the county would do any better
It is amazing to me that elected PT officials pursue current destructive thought and party bias instead of critical thinking to come to a logical conclusion on how to handle any given event or situation and then back pedal or ignore when things come apart at the seams and it is always costly to tax payers. It truly is a shame that we have lost good police officers and their families. So in my mind real change needs to happen here in are little town, but the pattern I have seen here in my short time in PT is the voice of the people is never really heard. Maybe its time to move off this rock to more friendly pastures.
Governments will soon dismantle themselves. Devolution is happening now. Covid criminals will be held accountable, crashing central banks will destroy the existing system.
https://clifhigh.substack.com/p/vox-populi-legislator-be-advised-c17?r=e0wek&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I was driving one of those 400 cars that paraded Port Townsend in support of local police. Riding with me was a cousin who is the father of a JeffCo sheriffs deputy. While driving down Water Street we were confronted by both young children and gray-haired women screaming at us while giving us the finger. Who would want to live in such a town, let alone serve as a police officer.
I envisioned Port Townsend as a small, quiet, and friendly community. It sounds like a mini downtown Seattle. Just another place to avoid. Hopefully when the next elections come around the City Government will change for the better.
Always was satisfied with my neighbors who are police here in town. Some levels of management not so much. Sorry to see officers leave. Wish other key players would.
If I were on City Council I would ask the following.
Why is PT so short staffed when just a few miles away apparently Jefferson County has officers to spare?
Who in City management and what about how officers are treated creates the discrepancy?
Appointed Mayor Faber is an attorney and has been on council for years as this situation evolved or devolved. He must be aware of what occurred here that was not a factor in the County.
How did the City Manager’s alleged expertise in sustainability fail to sustain our police?
Didn’t his “Engage Port Townsend” campaign reveal problems early on? He did engage the cop on the street didn’t he? Pretty important.
If we are short on officers isn’t there plenty of infrastructure (vehicles etc) not being used that is paid for so that the people of Port Townsend don’t have to pay for “fully loaded” Sheriff Deputies?
Isn’t that redundant and poor use of assets?
What prevents Sheriff Deputies from contracting out individually to the City at their union wages using City cars, weapons etc and save on County Administration? Don’t police often hire out for security at events? What’s the difference? Lets ask an attorney.
Anyone?
Here are some other thngs with Faber’s fingerprints. Cherry Street. Roads. Overpriced no public input 1.2 million dollar nonfunctional “park”. City Debt of 17 million. Debt service of 1.7 million a year would go far in fixing lots of things. Parking issues completely avoided for 8 years as City encouraged growth creates the need for more parking and insiders profit. Plans to whack down popular poplars without any public input.
PT is not “engaged” City Manager Mauro. Empty slogan. Empty leadership. Great smiles.
Now Police. These are the deeds and skills that get you appointed Mayor by a no term limit Council. And Amy Howard as Deputy Mayor with a certificate saying she studied sustainability.
The autopilot here in PT (Sandovalia) is broken and has been for years.
Those enjoying Titles have responsibility. Mr. Faber is big on institutional continuity. Translation- Don’t rock the boat.
Now we all get that sinking feeling.
Thanks to police and first responders. Don’t take the thin blue line for granted.
The truth is often found somewhere in the middle. I am disheartened to see ignorance and hatred on both sides of every issue locally and nationally. We are all acting like a bunch of tools being puppet-ed about. I loved seeing Canadians coming together for change and for caring for neighbors and co-workers. What we are engaging in now is dangerous and harmful. Perpetuating ignorance is not going to help. Hating neighbors is not helpful. People don’t even know who they are – where they come from or what most of these catch phrases mean prior to choosing an argument.
As mentioned above, the men are gone so the staffing is not there. What puzzles me is why does equipment need to be rented? That does not usually go with the personnel that left the job, Unless someone was not doing their job at the time of their departure. The cars should still be there, as well as weapons, and other hardware. Let them wear the Sheriffs uniform and only replace things as needed. If the cars were sold , then the department the $$$$ were given to need to be debited and it needs to be returned to the police budget as well as any other equipment sold. What the hell is County Overhead, that is mentioned in this listed as part of the cost to rent sheriff officers? Sounds more like padding the books and not having a clue of the actual cost.
Great idea!!!! The money could even be used to fix the streets.
Well for clarity, Sheriff Nole has not struggled with personnel issues and runs a professional organization.
“Seattle had 612 shootings and shots-fired incidents last year, nearly double its average before the pandemic. The city has just experienced its two worst years for homicides since the 1990s, when murder rates were at all-time highs.” Wall Street Journal, March 6, 2022
This is a city that, in response to the protest after George Floyd’s death in May 2020, cut millions from its law enforcement budget and lost hundreds of officers as a result of its Defund the Police ethos: “Demoralized officers have since left in droves, similar to other cities, said Travis Hill, a recently departed police sergeant who spent 14 years on the force. “Letting protesters take over a precinct during the city’s unrest in 2020 was particularly disheartening, he said. “When you don’t feel the city has your back, your proactive work goes down,” Mr. Hill said.
About 360 officers left Seattle’s force in the past two years, leaving about 950 in the department to battle the rise in shootings. At the beginning of the pandemic, Seattle had 1,305 officers.” WSJ, March 6, 2022.
What does this have to do with PT? Abandoning law enforcement and/or blaming them for society’s ills is the same knee-jerk, virtue-signaling behavior we’ve witnessed here, with zero thought to the consequences.Taking resources away from law enforcement means less investment in training and support for our officers, less investment in recruitment and retention, and here’s a shocker, it means more crime.
Dean, Sandoval, Faber & Co. were so quick to support taking resources away from law enforcement, yet had zero idea how to manage the number one drain on law enforcement in recent history: the encampment at the Fairgrounds. All that money wasted on Cherry Street that could have gone to agencies like Habitat that actually know what they are doing. A community patting itself on the back for feel-good but pointless activities like painting a mural on city streets and pretending they’ve done their part to end racism, while padding Sandoval’s retirement fund by allowing pro-real estate boom zoning policies that make affordable housing for working class folk impossible and effectively canceling any hope for a diverse and thriving population. But Jim, as you point out, lack of housing had nothing to do with losing the officers who were already living here. And everything to do with feeling like the community they were called to protect had abandoned them.
It is possible to actively support racial equity AND be pro-law enforcement. These are not mutually exclusive concepts. Unless of course you are a Democrat, and then you must choose the cause du jour lest you be cancelled for supporting the wrong thing. It’s at the heart of why this liberal has left the party to become an Independent. I’ve never been able to color within the lines. But I can definitely Back the Blue.
Thanks AJ for you comparison of Seattle to Port Townsend. This is a town of only around 10,000 people. The following does deal with the police issue. Sometimes you have to go to root causes, and trace poison to its source. This is meant to connect dots for the uninitiated.
Yeah, its another long one.
Somehow those who came into power in tiny little Port Townsend stopped being good neighbors and public servants and became servants of special interests. Over the years I have spoken to many PT police. Some as customers and some responding when I was advised to call in for City Manager Timmon’s “data base” as my business was blockaded by neighbors parking all day. This is year 8 of the changed culture.
One officer told me of a term he learned in the military that he said applies here, the “self licking ice cream cone”. Another told me of his frustration resulting from not being allowed to enforce glaring parking problems. He took an oath. His chief took an oath. One assumes every one of our neighbors up the chain of command in City Government take oaths to follow laws and codes meant to prevent what Port Townsend has become. SANDOVALIA. PT is dead. Murdered.
Laws and codes are ignored. The key players believe themselves to be above laws and codes when convenient.
A corrupted, smiley faced, fascist group of “neighbors” wearing masks of power and hiding behind thin curtains of positions have run this little town now for over 20 years.
Around 20 years ago this was the little town of shed boys, Sport Townsend, the Landfall, a bowling alley where the food co op is now, a lumber yard where there is now a national auto parts chain. When I arrived to set up a woodcraft business the mayor and police chief came to visit and personally welcomed us. They were neighbors. The fire chief drew plans for my home in Chimacum.
There were volunteer folk who understood that chalking car tires and writing tickets when forced to do so kept what used to be a culture of being a good neighbors from going bad. One of those folks often weeded our flower planters and made items for our store. She also gave me a ticket once when I visited and parked too long in the street. Only one ticket was necessary to remind me of greater issues.
This place was delightfully funky around the edges. It had a soul. Not people whose job it is and was to harness and weaken the soul and speak for it. There is and was money to be made by many in doing so.
This became a kind of mining operation. Or, a quaint farm gone factory farm. Cue the music- “i aint gonna work on Maggie’s Farm no more”.
Also around 20 years ago Port Townsend changed to a Mayor that was appointed by a no term limit City Council and a City Manager system. Another comparison to Seattle is that the first City Manager was a past Seattle City Council member. A past mayor ran the PDA that controls the Pike Place Market. City folks had arrived. That PDA, like the FWPDA ran loose and sold Pike Place to New York investors and leased it back so investors could get tax break. Then tax laws changed and the New York guys wanted more rent money. It cost the State Millions to get rid of them. I tried to warn of letting a PDA control Fort Worden. Deaf ears. What happened was no accident. A simple woodworker’s warnings were not listened to. Then and now.
A council person very connected to Real Estate came on board and stayed 20 years. A second City Manager stayed 20 years. This resulted in 17 million in city debt. Cherry Street. Roads left to decay until expensive replacement is the only option. There is no money for that.
He was given an award on retiring and also given the Executive Director job at Fort Worden after doing damage control after the meltdown there.
Appointed Mayor Faber claims progress in a vague newsletter regarding roads although no real numbers are given. Faber voted to spend 1.2 million and add $600,000 to city debt with the butt ugly and useless “plaza” at the visitor center. Wrong on so many levels including being “green” and financially responsible, as basics went unaddressed. Meet the new boss………
It will all be different now with a compromised City Manager Mauro who obviously came on board with the understanding that parking was not to be mentioned or addressed, as the Maritime Center removes its lot in favor of a new building to attract more visitors, the Marine Science Center moves to Flagship Landing to attract more visitors, a project in the works renovates and makes valuable dozens of units in the center of the Historic District, and the volunteer chair of Main Street who owns several restaurants buys a six million dollar building where parking would be a key factor in value.
This brings me to the current situation. The formula is never to give back taken ground. During construction a gravel parking area at Water and Adams was taken to stage construction equipment for several years. Public area for private use. This year City Manager Mauro along with Main Street turned this into a “parklet”. It serves the restaurant industry more than anyone. Mari of Main Street called it a great saving of a chuck holed mess. The chuck holed mess was created and purposefully neglected. GRRRRRREAT!!!!!!
Now the current newsletter seen online by my manager and not yet even out in sewer bills talks of making the “streeteries” permanent. These have been mostly unused for quite a while. The cut off date for comments is March 31.
Fast track with little time for discussion is the formula. Worked at Fort Worden and other places here. Poplars come to mind.
If you wonder why any reputable police officer would not want to be the neglected and abused bitch of this corrupt group you are not paying attention. If you click on my name at the header here you will see I am also leaving after 26 years. The problem in finding a buyer is being honest with any potential buyer regarding manufactured ongoing business access issues. Parking.
This means I will most likely liquidate starting in September. I have now seen two communities ruined by greed and power. Pike and PT. The similarities are amazing. Key players are interchangeable. Those here think they are one of a kind.
Hope you all enjoy the streeteries and all day parking, both are done deals that benefit special interests. I ain’t gonna work on Maggies farm no more. See you in Port Hadlock until “progress” takes over there.
This did go on pretty long. Many points have been covered before. It is important to connect dots. The picture is corruption and collusion. With smiley faces and fewer police.
New hires with integrity needed. You are not allowed to arrest your bosses. If you live here you helped create the current reality, and support it. Root cause=you.
Thank you for this- it is time to retreat- it makes me sad- 20 years of destruction is enough. You are right- we watched it happen-we let it happen. I am calling on small businesses to defund mainstreet. I too want out of this pyramid scheme. It takes generations to build community and only a few decades to destroy it.
Why make a sarcastic, cutting comment in a forum where we are all trying to come together in a community we care about, that is headed in such a misguided direction? What purpose does it serve to try to put me down? Did you read the entirety of my comment? I brought up the article about the decimation of the police force in Seattle not to compare the size of the force or of the city, but the note that the spirit in which the cuts were made mirrors that of the PT response, i.e. in deference to the Defund the Police movement.
No need to answer. I just ask you to think before your cut someone else’s comments down about how you want to approach your friends and neighbors here. We’re all doing our best to support each other and find a way forward. Gratitude for Jim, Ana, Annette and all of PTFP the contributors for keeping this space open and convivial.
AJ.
If you are referring to “Thanks AJ for you comparison of Seattle to Port Townsend. This is a town of only around 10,000 people” was to highlight that City Government has become detached and out of touch with their neighbors.
Big city management style in a small town. Agree with you.
I believe it was designed to be that way starting around 20 years ago.
The ending “If you live here, you helped create the current reality, and support it. Root cause=you.” Was not aimed at you. It was a way of saying that people get the government they deserve. That is what a City Manager that Managed 5 cities in his career told me a few months ago regarding here specifically. He prefaced it with “especially in small towns….. people get the Government they deserve.
No shade on you personally. Far from it.
Here is some info regarding removing even more parking, as Marine Science Center, Maritime Center, dozens of new units, and non enforced parking with no plan or education makes many days difficult or impossible to do business. Please consider letting Council and John Mauro now influencing Main Street know that overt destruction of the ability to do business is not acceptable.
The thanks for sacrificing for other business better connected than some others is…..WE WANT MORE.
PORT TOWNSEND – The City of Port Townsend will host an open house at the Cotton Building (607 Water Street) on March 29 from 4:30pm – 6:00pm to allow members of the public to learn and provide feedback about possible long-term streateries and parklets in Port Townsend.
During the pandemic, streateries and parklets have provided open-air public spaces. Updates to the City’s code and the development of standards could allow more permanent structures, requiring better aesthetics and more durable structures. City staff will be on hand to answer questions and engage. They desire to hear from the community to help propose balanced options to City Council for their consideration.
Take the survey. [2]
The City Council agreed to the following schedule which provide opportunities for public comment and feedback:
* March 21, 2022 Survey noted above distributed by Port Townsend Main Street* March 29, 2022 Open House at 4:30 at the Cotton Building
* March 31, 2022 Survey closes
* April 4, 2022, City Council Meeting reviews public feedback
* April 18, 2022, City Council Meeting - Council will be presented with proposed code and receives public feedback
* May 2, 2022, City Council Meeting presents any revisions of ordinance for the proposed code
Parklets are spaces in which parking stalls are converted to support public outdoor enjoyment of the surrounding urban landscape. Parklets are usually equipped with greenery and seating. Parklets may be initiated through coordination with the City in cooperation with adjoining businesses. Parklets are open the public at all times.
Streateries are spaces used specifically to support an adjoining restaurant. A streatery can be controlled as an exclusive space for the restaurant during business hours. Streateries must remain open to the public after hours. Streateries are similar to sidewalk cafes except they occupy parking spaces instead of the sidewalk. Streateries are initiated by the adjoining property owner and authorized through a permit by the City.
Aren’t well funded police departments a manifestation of that scary socialism?
I feel like a salmon. I was born here and will die here. I was from an age when you paid for your mistakes. I cut the corners many times and always survived, but learned the lesson that you would have to pay for your mistakes, possibly with your life. Keeping this in mind I think the Sheriff should not respond to anything in Port Townsend Let’s see how that works out. The days of having a Police Force of half dozen officers is gone. People there don’t realize this isn’t the 1950’s, yet they leave their homes and cars unlocked with the keys in the ignition. This is called the School of Hard Knocks. When people are robbed on Water Street, beaten or murdered, having stores like Safeway or QFC close from being robbed in broad day light, maybe the dim little light in their brains will come on. I know this would be hard on the Sheriff and Deputies as it’s against everything they’ve dedicated their lives to, but sometimes you just have to show that you’re not going to support stupidity and risk the lives of your officers. This is one of those cases that the SOHK is in session.
On the other hand I would offer this to Port Townsend. All officers would have new cars given to them. All the latest safety gear would be given to them by Port Townsend as their personal equipment. Officers would be paid double time and a half for each shift. If they are not paid at the end of the shift, they take their car and safety equipment home with them and return when paid double time for the work performed is paid with a fine of another additional hour’s shift wage.
I like the officers that protect me and every time I see them in QFC I direct them to the donuts. It’s all in good humor and at the least I get a smile from them. They know I’m kidding and maybe it gives them a small bit of humor to brighten their day. Sure, they make mistakes because they’re human. They perform a job I wouldn’t want now. When I was living in Camas I applied for positions with both the Washington State Patrol and Clark County Sheriff’s Dept. The State Patrol wouldn’t hire me because I was 5’ll” and without a college degree and they wanted 6′ without one. I then considered the Sheriff’s Dept. but they we so underpaid, I gave up the idea and went to work at the CZ Mill. With what is happening to Police officers now, I’m glad I didn’t. It’s become very dangerous for them even in Port Townsend. As more of their “Homeless” people who only want to get drunk or high continues enter where they’re housed, fed and can do as they wish, it’s just a matter of time before the situation becomes worse.
In short, Port Townsend has made it’s bed. Now let them sleep in it. The School of Hard Knocks would be open.
To really understand what each police officer faces, each city council member, mayor, assistants, etc need to go on ride alongs about once every two weeks, especially during high volition times. Let the council, et al, face the violence bestowed. Then I would think there would be a better understanding about law enforcement and what it takes to achieve that.