The Council was introduced to the new corrections officer and courthouse security, John Stanford, during their July 12 meeting. Sheriff Eric Peter also provided updates from the Sheriff’s Office, including information about multiple officer and dispatch training, crime, arrest and call statistics.
“This will be the first time we have courthouse security,” Sheriff Peter told the Council. Staford has 10 years of experience in federal correction and is a Navy veteran. His wife’s family is from Lopez so he has ties to the islands.
After Council welcomed Staford, Peter moved on to discuss a number of trainings. The drones acquired earlier this year have already been deployed in both fire situations and for search and rescue. Two deputies gained additional drone operating certification by attending training in Nashville, Tennessee. The animal control that three deputies attended was also worthwhile.
“It has already paid off,” the Sheriff said.
Sheriff Peter also praised dispatch for attending training on top of their busy work schedule, and dispatch has been busy. They have responded to 8,183 calls in total. This includes hang-ups and informational calls. Breaking it down by island, 4,665 of those calls were San Juan, 2,256 were Orcas, 975 Lopez and 287 were outer island.
The County is outgrowing its jail. Already this year 127 people were booked, spending a total of 372 days in jail, preconviction.
There have been a total of 155 adults arrested. Island breakdown, San Juan once again comes out on top with 112, 20 on Orcas, 14 on Lopez.
There were 31 Driving Under the Influence incidences, last year there were 46.
“We are well above the mark, and it isn’t a mark we want to reach. This is not a race want to win,” Peter said.
There have been 17 assaults. Three of those were on law enforcement officers. One of the three occurred in the field and two in jail.
Six of those were domestic abuse instances
An anonymous donor provided the Orcas substation with a mass shooter kit. Peter said he would like to work with someone on Lopez and San Juan so that all three islands have one on hand.
Shoplifting has taken an uptick. Peter said he encouraged business owners to install security cameras. Without video footage it is difficult to proceed with the investigation.
Sunshine Ally and Sunken Park have had vandalism and graphite. Deputies continue to monitor the areas.
There have been 12 overdoses, but Peter pointed out that those were the ones the Sheriff’s Office has responded to. EMS has responded to others, and there are most likely occasions where friends and family have been able to apply Narcan to save the person’s life, and those instances have not been reported. The total statistic is likely much higher.
The Sheriff’s Office worked with San Juan Island Prevention Coalition and Joyce Sobel Family Resource Center and Friday Harbor High School on prevention workshops primarily aimed at youth. Similar presentations are in the works on Lopez and Orcas.
Council members asked a few questions.
Jane Fuller inquired about diversity.
“We are desperate for diversity. It’s very hard to get it. Every time I go somewhere I try to recruit,” Peter responded. Housing and ferries were two of the biggest barriers. “It’s hard to encourage them to come up here and give up what they currently have.”
