FORKS – Two Clallam County sheriff’s deputies are likely to be called in to fortify the Police Department while the city searches for new officers.
Sheriff Bill Benedict told county commissioners Monday that he wants to assign the deputies to the hard-hit West End department as soon as possible.
“It’s an unprecedented level of turnover,” said Benedict.
“The long-term prognosis for their department is not good.”
County commissioners expect to formally approve the arrangement at their meeting that starts at 10 a.m. today.
“It’s not an issue that can be resolved quickly,” said Commissioner Mike Chapman, R-Port Angeles, a former lawman.
“[Forks’] lack of manpower isn’t likely to go away.”
One former Forks officer made a lateral move to the Tukwila Police Department, meaning he already has completed the state police academy and needs only field training.
Another Forks officer is at the academy, and a third is on maternity leave, according to Mayor Nedra Reed.
There’s also the question of pay.
“Unfortunately, it’s a matter of money,” Police Chief Mike Powell said Monday.
“The city has not been able to keep up with pay scales to bring people out to Forks.”
Ironically, the two deputies due to be reassigned to duty in Forks once were Forks police officers themselves.
Powell said he also has lost two officers to the Clallam Bay Corrections Center, where pay not only is higher but where corrections officers are due for a raise this summer.
Besides the money, Powell said, it’s hard to get West End law enforcement candidates to join a force where they must police their childhood friends and neighbors.
Forks will reimburse the county for what the Forks officers would be paid, plus benefits and transportation costs, Benedict said, and the city will assume any liability for the deputies.
