PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County commissioners have agreed to have the county rejoin the inter-local multi-jurisdictional Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team.
The team, known as OPNET, combines the efforts of law enforcement and government agencies in Jefferson and Clallam counties, the cities of Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles and State Patrol officers to combat controlled substance abuse and major crimes on the Olympic Peninsula.
Jefferson County withdrew from the agreement in 2016. Now Jefferson County Sheriff Joe Nole and prosecuting attorney James Kennedy have recommended that the county rejoin the agreement because of recent improvements.
Improvements include addressing civil liabilities — such as processes for civil forfeiture and what happens when someone sues OPNET — clear definitions for key words of the agreement and having the State Patrol join the agreement.
The main concern about the county joining the agreement in early discussions was having the State Patrol join, which they eventually did, said deputy civil prosecuting attorney Philip Hunsucker.
Commissioners unanimously approved reviving the agreement at their Tuesday morning meeting.
OPNET’s goal is to “enhance the efforts of the law enforcement agencies of the participants to combat and reduce the manufacturing and distribution of controlled substances on the Olympic Peninsula through a coordinated and concentrated effort by and among law enforcement agencies located upon the Olympic Peninsula with respect to the investigation and prosecution of violations of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act,” commission documents said.
The agreement allows the different agencies to share resources and manpower across the jurisdictions as needed such as for major cases such as homicides, drug related crimes and other needs, Nole said.
Jefferson detectives would assist Clallam officers as needed and vice versa, Nole said.
OPNET has been in operation for more than 20 years, said Nole at the Feb. 10 meeting.
“We used to just be kind of a ragtag group of agencies just helping each other out,” Nole said.
“When money started coming down from the state and federal government, we started to become more organized.
“I do want to work with OPNET because, in my opinion, we get more help from [Clallam] then they do from us.”
Nole said many Peninsula cases are intertwined between jurisdictions (county/city/state) and OPNET makes it easier to manage them, especially drug-related cases.
“We trust our law enforcement teams to do their jobs, and the other teams to do their jobs,” said district 2 commissioner David Sullivan Tuesday.
“Mutual aid is the only way to go for small rural counties.”
There is not a clear financial impact to the county at this time, but Nole believes it will be a net financial and operational benefit for the county.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
