The Aug. 4 Port Angeles city council meeting opened with several callers and voice messages encouraging diversity and implementation of a petition of reforms for the Public Safety Advisory Board (PSAB).
This petition calls for the board to become a citizen oversight committee with authority to investigate police and city employees.
Their call for diversity specifically cites tribal members (good), and drug addicts, felons and homeless.
Some of the callers made allegations of racism and accusations of vigilantism and right-wing constitutionalism.
Retired Undersheriff Ron Peregrin spoke against this effort.
He revealed that the petition with 241 signatures, (at that time), had over 30 percent from off the Peninsula. Also many of the other 70 percent of signers were from Jefferson County.
The July 29th Port Townsend Free Press reports of their council: ”Wanting to show they are in step with the BLM and the defund the police movement, councilors have launched an ad hoc committee of the full council to explore alternatives to law enforcement.
“Ideas to be considered range from cutting the police budget to replacing police with social workers to disarming police or requiring them to keep handguns in the trunks of their patrol cars until needed.”
Listen to the recording of the Port Angeles council’s Aug. 4 meeting.
This is just the beginning.
Our police agencies are outstanding law enforcement organizations.
While other small cities are becoming plagued with drugs and gangs, Port Angeles is still a good place to raise a family.
Steve Blakeman
Port Angeles