Clallam County citizen urges study of consolidation of law enforcement agencies

PORT ANGELES — Clallam County resident Norma Turner told commissioners Tuesday that consolidating the various law enforcement agencies of the North Olympic Peninsula would help the budget crisis.

“Unfortunately, they seem to be kind of balancing the budget on the backs of the poor and disenfranchised,” Turner said.

“I would like to speak out against the concept that each entity — local, state and federal — are acting so they function in independent spheres. I would encourage you to look at how do all of those different budgets integrate.”

Turner described “an inordinate number of law enforcement agencies for this small county.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“We have a sheriff’s department, three police departments, a State Patrol, Fish & Wildlife agents, Border Patrol, National Park rangers, immigration and customs, and the tribal law enforcements,” Turner said.

She urged the commissioners to convene a study group to help the public understand the total budgets for all of the law enforcement agencies in the county, the total number of employees and the legal constraints that would keep them from integrating.

Turner cited the Border Patrol’s expansion in Port Angeles and questioned whether other law enforcement officers could have been deputized as agents instead.

Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict declined to respond to Turner’s remarks in the open meeting.

However, he did speak in private with Turner for about 10 minutes after the meeting.

Later Tuesday, Benedict said Turner’s ideas have some merit but need to be studied by city councils and boards of county commissioners.

Commissioner Mike Doherty said the county and the city of Port Angeles are already engaged in looking for efficiencies that would streamline local government. Early discussions have focused on information technology.

“There is a very active discussion in the Legislature about state offices consolidating,” Doherty said.

“And there was some discussion of the tangential relationships of local government dealing with state agencies.

“Stay tuned to that.”

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Boating coach Eric Lesch, at a whiteboard, explains sailing techniques to a youth sailboat class. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Teenagers learning boating skills through program

Nonprofit funded by grants, agencies and donations

Land trust successful with campaign fund

Public access expected to open this year

Mark Hodgson.
Hodgson plans to run for Port Angeles City Council

Schromen-Wawrin, who currently holds seat, won’t run again

Pet vaccination clinic set for Saturday in Port Townsend

Pet Helpers of Port Townsend will conduct a pet… Continue reading

Charter Review Commission to conduct town hall Monday

The Clallam County Charter Review Commission will conduct a… Continue reading

Alexander Hamilton.
Clallam deputies graduate from state training center

Corrections deputies Alexander Hamilton and Cameron Needham have graduated… Continue reading

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill and other small ocean creatures used by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center for education purposes while on a road trip with his family on Tuesday at Fort Worden State Park. Parker’s father Tyler is at left. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Science education

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill… Continue reading

Port Angeles approves lodging tax fund requests

Vacancy on committee brings legal questions

OMC hires family medicine physician

Dr. Calvin Kuo will join hospital in August

Colton Dufour, left, and his mom Cherie Tachell. (Cherie Tachell)
Boy seriously injured following hit-and-run

Condition is stable, but more testing underway for Sequim teenager

Applications open for Forks council seat

The Forks City Council is accepting applications to fill a… Continue reading