PORT ANGELES — Forks Mayor Nedra Reed is alone in her call for Clallam County commissioners to assume control of the county jail, commissioners said Monday.
Law-enforcement agencies in Port Angeles and Sequim haven’t followed her lead — at least not yet — although Sequim has joined Forks in a lawsuit against the county over paying prisoners’ costs.
Commissioner Mike Chapman, R-Port Angeles, said the idea of removing the jail from the sheriff’s administration has been around for years.
Commissioner Steve Tharinger, D-Dungeness, said options included an independent jail operation similar to PenCom, which handles dispatching duties for law enforcement agencies throughout the county.
So far, no agency has requested such a jail shakeup, but Dan Engelbertson, county administrator, invited other governments to do so.
“When you feel strongly about the issue, let the county know,” he said.
Law and Justice Council
Suggestions should go to the county’s Law and Justice Council for study, commissioners indicated, although they have authority to remove the jail from the sheriff’s control.
Reed responded that a jail authority similar to PenCom essentially would be a committee.
“It’s difficult to run anything with a committee,” the Forks mayor said Monday.
“You can’t have a committee every time you need to make a decision.”
Reed suggested instead “a well-qualified jail administrator who reports to the county commissioners.”
