Officials address rash of crime

NOXON - Thursday night in the Noxon School multipurpose room, the second Sanders County “Building A Safer Community” meeting took place. As previously reported, these meetings are being held to determine ways to confront the wave of crime that has been felt in the western portion of the county. The focus of the meeting was for Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel, Undersheriff Lanny Hensley and Sanders County Commissioner Tony Cox to provide a report on the progress towards thwarting the crime spree in the county and to hear public opinion and comment.

Attendance at the meeting was slightly smaller than in the first meeting, which took place late March, but undoubtedly the tension in the room was still just as palpable.

In a slightly more organized manner than the first meeting, the night’s discussions started off with Sheriff Rummel giving an update as to what the department has been doing to try and curb the crime in the west.

Sheriff Report/Update on stats

Sheriff Rummel reported that the department has shifted more patrols to the western portion of the county and has been working with Undersheriff Hensley to augment scheduling to try to deploy more deputies at certain times. He did say that he has been doing his best without crippling the rest of the community. Despite the increased patrols, the effects have primarily been warnings and fines. It was reported that all the money from the fines goes to the state and not back into the Sheriff Department’s revenue. Five arrests have also been made in the region, but the relation to the robberies was considered minimal, at best.

Possible new deputy

The question was then posed to Sheriff Rummel about the feasibility of hiring a new deputy. Rummel first reported that living right now in Thompson Falls is a post certified reserve officer. He said he already passed the academy. Though the officer is within the region, figures were given to show how much money would be needed to outfit the individual for the first year. Adding up the pay per hour of $18.74, insurance, vehicle cost, and equipment, the figure came to approximately $100,000 per year for a new deputy.

The possibility of grant money being used to help supplement the cost of a new deputy was discussed, as well as the option of a Public Safety Mill Levy. In order for one new deputy ($100,000), the county would need to levy 2.97 mills. The tax increase to citizens in a $50,000 home would be $1.94 a year, a $100,000 home would be $3.89 a year and a $200,000 home would be $7.78 a year. The figures for three new deputies ($300,000) would be 8.91 mills and six new deputies ($600,000) would be 17.82 mills. However, Commissioner Cox mentioned that levying a tax must be decided by the entire county, and not just a sector within the county.

Sheriff Department Priorities

Rummel also described how priority dictated where the department’s money must be spent. He mentioned the radios that the department uses are 15 years old. He said that with careful consideration, because the money is the taxpayers’ dollars, he must prioritize as to whether to replace outdated equipment or consider the possibilities of hiring a new deputy, given the slight chance he actually could.

Another idea that Rummel offered, saying that if he could accomplish obtaining the funds through a grant, would be to install laptops in the deputies’ cars. To modernize the department’s cars and install the laptops would cost $220,000. He feels confident that it is possible to obtain the grant and that the laptops would help. His reasoning for installing laptops in the cars is that, after any routine stop, such as a DUI or other traffic violation, a deputy without a laptop must drive all the way back to headquarters in Thompson Falls and fill out a report. He said this eats up hours of work time. With the laptops, the deputies could fill out the report from the scene and continue working without having to drive back to base. This would allow for constant increased patrols where they are needed.

Cross Deputization

A big question that was posed to Rummel was the possibility of cross deputization from surrounding counties. He said that talks have begun, but due to unexpected circumstances, it is still in the works. He also mentioned that Fish and Game and other agencies have been helping.

Reserve Officer

The question about where deputies live and the possibility of having reserve officers to help the stretched-thin Sheriff Department was also addressed. Sheriff Rummel reported that he has been working to recruit citizens who were willing to become reserve officers. He said that as of the meeting, nine applicants have signed up for the 88 hour course and then the five week Field Officer Training Program under the supervision of a deputy. However, Rummel stressed that there are still limitations to what a reserve officer can do, and that, it being a volunteer program, it is hard for individuals to maintain that position and hold a normal job. He did say that a reserve officer in the community would still be a great asset to help fight crime.

In regards to where deputies can hold residence, the Sheriff made clear and in a concise manner that between the Teamsters Union, which the deputies belong to, and the county, a collective bargaining agreement was signed that insured the deputies worked within a safe and fair environment. This agreement included that the county cannot tell a deputy where he or she can live. However, within the agreement, it is not stated that the Sheriff and Undersheriff can’t tell the deputies where he or she can be stationed for the day. The two still have control over schedule and stationing. The bargaining agreement includes such details of lunch break time and free uniforms.

To go a step further, Sheriff Rummel explained how, with his six deputies, they must cover an entire county and by law are required to attend to a call regardless of where it is, including mental health transports or accidents, when Highway Patrol cannot make it to a scene.

Commissioner Report

Commissioner Cox did not have too much to add other than to say that the commissioners would do everything in their power to help look for funding to help strengthen the department. He did express programs that taxpayers’ dollars go into, such as the library and the bookmobile, cannot be eliminated unless voted out by the public, because they were voted in by the public.

Along with explaining how money is allocated, Cox wanted to make clear how money going to the fair works. During the previous community meeting, a figure of $400,000 was given for how much the fair costs. Cox explained that only approximately $190,000 of taxpayer’s dollars goes to the fair.

Community Help

The discussion then turned to Undersheriff Hensley in regards to community help. “The most effective thing is when the community gets involved,” he said. At the back of the multipurpose room, a signup sheet was there for people who would like to be a part of a community watch program. One person in the audience even said that long ago there was a successful community watch program, and that she still had all the paperwork for how it was organized. It was also discussed that a possible reserve officer could help with a community watch program.

Questions from community

A majority of the questions from the public were for clarification on the information given by Commissioner Cox, Sheriff Rummel or Undersheriff Hensley.

The biggest question that came up was for more clarification as to why a deputy can’t be told to live in the western portion of the county. Sheriff Rummel readdressed the issue, indicating that he had his hands tied, but had the power to tell the deputies where to be stationed during a shift. He then added that within what he is allowed to do, if the money was acquired for a new deputy, he would ask if it would be possible for the deputy to choose to live in the western sector.

He mentioned that there was also the possibility of a federal grant that would help raise money for a new deputy in the upcoming years.

The question was also asked if the saturation patrols, which Sheriff Rummel previously explained was the immediate plan, would be continued. He said that they are sustainable and it just requires scheduling.

Questions were asked about who would be sent out, a deputy or detective. Sheriff Rummel explained that it is based on urgency and type of case.

It was also mentioned that an individual gave the Sheriff’s Department $5,700 dollars to add to the $1,000 dollar reward for providing information that would lead to the arrest of the individuals that broke into and assaulted an individual last month.

Though many logistical and figures were explained during the meeting, it was still apparent that many questions still existed about how the crime problem in the west would be solved. Some wanted more from the county, while others talked of becoming a reservist or starting a community program.