Citizens Patrol training hits COVID-19 roadblock

By Bill Reynolds

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools, businesses, agencies and organizations to adopt a new normal by conducting daily work remotely.

But not everything can be shifted to the virtual world.

One of those directly impacts La Conner – plans to develop a Citizens Patrol here to fill gaps when Skagit County Sheriff’s deputies are on call elsewhere and away from their detachment office at Town Hall.

A Citizens Patrol is being eyed as a remedy for the rash of vandalism and graffiti tagging that has plagued the community for several months.

“It would be a good way to curtail the tagging,” said Town Administrator Scott Thomas.

However, training sessions necessary to launch a Citizens Patrol need to be conducted on an in-person basis, Thomas said following a meeting last week with Sheriff’s Office officials, including Sgt. Jeff Willard, who administers the La Conner detachment.

“A Citizens Patrol requires training and it has to be done in-person and not remotely,” Thomas told Town Councilmembers at their video-conferenced Sept. 8 meeting. “Hopefully, by next spring, we’ll be able to proceed with this.”

That timetable aligns with acquiring a surplus vehicle that can be used for code enforcement and to deter traffic violations, an option advanced last month by Councilmember Bill Stokes.

“Sgt. Willard put me in contact with the person who manages the county fleet,” Thomas said, noting that La Conner is on a list for a potential acquisition.

“Hopefully,” Thomas said, “by the end of the year we’ll have a surplus vehicle.”

Thomas’ meeting with the Sheriff’s Office staff addressed Council participation in a Citizens Academy instructional program taught by area police officers.

“There might be room for a Councilmember to join in,” said Thomas. “It’s a program whose topics relate to law enforcement. It’s an overview of the responsibilities of law enforcement officers and it includes a weekend mock scene event.

“Other jurisdictions,” he said, “look favorably on it. It’s a good way to learn how police operations work. Broadly speaking, it’s about law enforcement. It’s good information to have.”

Willard, for his part, emphasized the need for information to flow in two directions. He thanked La Conner resident Rick Dole for sharing details during the Council meeting of increased night traffic on North Sixth Street near where a landmark oak tree was recently tagged with graffiti.

“We encourage the public that if they are seeing suspicious behavior to call the sheriff’s office,” Willard said. “Those calls by citizens help makes us more effective.”

In related notes:

• Councilmember John Leaver requested, and Council voted 4-1, to have minutes from the Aug. 25 meeting revised to include details of the discussion that led to acceptance of new contract terms with the Sheriff’s Office for local law enforcement services. Stokes dissented.

• Willard said calls for police service were fewer in August, by a 56-41 ratio, from July.

• Thomas said the Town has contacted the owner of property north of the La Conner Schools campus where a ring dike section would be built as a flood control measure. The land has been appraised at $13,000-$14,000. Thomas and Mayor Ramon Hayes said appraisal and purchase are planned by the end of the year. “I would say we’re on track,” Hayes said. However, the owner has not yet responded. “I would like to see it on the front-burner,” Councilmember Jacques Brunisholz said. “I would like to see the land purchased. We’ve been talking about it for a long time. I consider it a public safety matter.”