By Patricia Guthrie / South Whidbey Record
LANGLEY — Langley should continue running its own police outfit and not join forces with the Island County sheriff, Mayor Tim Callison advised the City Council last week.
“I recommend that the Langley Police Department remains a separate municipal police force and we do not enter into negotiations with the Island County Sheriff’s Office at this time,” Callison said.
The council members informally agreed with the mayor, but they put off a final vote for two weeks when Councilwoman Christy Korrow, who was absent, will return.
The possible new arrangement was suggested by the council after the controversy over Langley’s former police chief. The council is also taking a thorough look at police policy; its report is expected soon.
The mayor reviewed the option of transitioning the Langley Police Department to a subcontracted service of the county sheriff, similar to Coupeville’s arrangement.
Langley’s police force costs the city $457,009. Contracting with the sheriff’s office for two full-time dayshift deputies, along with night call, support services and supplies add up to $459,753, Callison wrote in a prepared report.
“It would be prudent for the city to undertake this evaluation on a periodic basis, maybe even every three years,” he said.
This story originally appeared in the South Whidbey Record, a sibling paper of The Daily Herald.
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