PORT TOWNSEND – Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez depends upon more than 100 volunteers to assist his office in all aspects of law enforcement, but the most valuable help can originate from simple observation.
“You guys are the eyes and ears, and anything you can provide us is essential,” Hernandez told the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on Monday.
“We get thousands of tips, and people might not realize how significant a tip might be as it may allow us to provide the piece of the law enforcement puzzle that can help everybody.”
Hernandez was responding to a question by a chamber member about one of her neighbors, whom she thought was selling liquor to minors and wondered if she should take down the car license number and report it.
Hernandez encouraged her to “take down the number, as long as doing that doesn’t create a danger for you.”
Hernandez provided the second in a series of Chamber of Commerce forums that featured county candidates who are running without opposition on today’s ballot — and are automatically elected to new four-year terms.
Last week, the chamber heard from Auditor Donna Eldridge, Assessor Jack Westerman III, Treasurer Judi Morris and Superior Court Clerk Ruth Gordon.
On Monday, Hernandez shared the stage with Jefferson County Public Utility District Commissioner Barney Burke who, like Hernandez, is running for his first full term after being appointed to an unexpired term.
Hernandez said he runs the Sheriff’s Office under an austerity budget and has lost five positions since March.
“We are all experiencing an economic crisis,” he said.
“What we are hoping is during these tough times that we don’t see the worst in people but that we see the best in people, who all roll up their sleeves and work harder, and work collectively together.”
Hernandez has been speaking on Proposition 1, which will raise sales taxes 0.3 percent — or 3 cents on each $10 purchase — on the current ballot.
Passage of the proposition would fund two deputies and support training programs.
“I have the most volunteers — 107 — of any county department,” the sheriff said.
“I’ve accomplished this because I’ve put my missions out to the community and said that I cannot maintain services at the level that I want to without your support.”
Hernandez said he has a total staff of 51, but only 13 sworn deputies to cover 1,800 square miles.
“Whether you are a small-business owner or an individual, you are the one who can help the Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
“You can tell up about the things that don’t belong, that we aren’t able to pick up on because we don’t have the staff.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
