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Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com

Sultan to trim police service

By Yoshiaki Nohara, Herald Writer

SULTAN - Starting in September, only four police officers and the chief will patrol the city to keep people safe.

The city has decided to reduce the police force from six officers and a chief to four officers and a chief as it struggles to balance its budget.

The budget is expected to fall about $450,000 short this year. That's more than 20 percent of the city's $2.2 million general fund, which pays for basic services including police.

"There's no immediate fix in sight. We simply have to live within our means," City Councilman Jim Flower said Monday. The City Council took several actions last week to deal with the projected budget shortfall, city administrator Deborah Knight said. The council decided to make some city employees work shorter work weeks. The city will no longer maintain its parks or fill potholes, Knight said.

"We are still $88,000 short," Knight said.

Sultan is home to about 4,500 people. The proposed change at the police department is expected to take effect next month, Knight said.

The city hopes to reduce the police force without laying off any officers, Flower said. One of them may be promoted to become an interim police chief. Another may leave Sultan to work for another agency, he said.

The police department had eight officers and a chief earlier this year, Knight said. In July, two officers resigned. One took a job with a different law enforcement agency. The other left for a personal reason.

The city's forecast for revenue from building permits and development fees was $270,000 off, Knight said.

The city also is paying unexpected bills, including up to $100,000 for two ongoing investigations at the police department, Knight said. One investigation involves alleged misuse of a city computer by a police department employee. The Washington State Patrol is handling that case.

The other investigation involves allegations that Sultan Police Chief Fred Walser withheld information from the city attorney related to the computer misuse investigation. The Everett Police Department's internal affairs unit is handling the investigation.

Walser, who has been on paid administrative leave since June, is expected to resign Friday.

The city continues to consider other ways to cut expenses. It may have to lay off some employees, Flower said. Ideas to boost revenue for the city include increasing business and occupation tax.

People in Sultan have always come together in a crisis, Flower said.

"We are not considering disincorporation. Sultan has been here for 100 years. It will be here for another 100 years," he said. "This is our home."

Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.