PORT ANGELES — A police officer dedicated solely to the downtown area — similar to one stationed on the high school campus — could be pounding the pavement in about a year if merchants are willing to help fund the position.
“It’s a small area, but it’s the heart of the city,” said Police Chief Tom Riepe.
“We have about 3,600 calls per year in the downtown. It’s less than 2 percent of the city’s area and it generates 20 percent of our calls.
“So we’re looking for partnerships to fund the position, similar to the school resource officer.”
The Port Angeles Police Department and Port Angeles Downtown Association have scheduled a presentation on the proposal at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Harborside Room of The Landing mall, 115 E. Railroad Ave.
Funding agreement
Copies of the proposed funding agreement, a description of the program area, a job description and a work schedule will be available at the presentation.
“Downtown is just such a busy place,” Riepe said.
“I’d love to afford to have a officer there full-time. I’m optimistic we can make it happen.”
Riepe said the officer could be selected now, but not assigned to the job full-time until a replacement is ready.
Recruiting, hiring and training a police officer takes about a year, including five months at the police academy and an additional three months of field training in the city, he said.
Riepe said having an officer free from routine calls and dedicated to serving the school district, primarily at the high school, has helped create an improved learning and working environment.
A similar police officer in the downtown area could achieve similar results, he said.
Downtown area
The proposed downtown resource officer would be responsible for the same area covered by a pedestrian interference ordinance approved last month by the City Council.
The area runs from Valley Creek Estuary Park to Francis Street Park and from the waterfront to Second Street between Valley and Laurel streets, extending south to Fourth Street between Laurel and Peabody streets.
Riepe said the average cost of a police officer is about $73,000 annually, including salary, benefits and equipment.
The merchants will be asked to pay half of that, although with startup, the first-year expense to the downtown proprietors could be about $40,000.
The Port Angeles School District pays $23,000 for its school resource officer through a funding partnership.
