Lea Zengage’s Sept. 6 letter, “Put money toward preventing crime,” is on the right track. While I might think that we need to be tougher with certain crimes, prevention does go a long way to reducing crime. One of the more effective ways local government can put its money to preventing crime is to have someone on staff who teaches the public how it can prevent crime.
Most of the major cities and towns in Snohomish County have that person. They are called Crime Prevention Officers (CPOs). Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood (has two), Everett, Mill Creek, Arlington are among the cities and towns that know the benefits of crime prevention.
Unfortunately, our county leaders have decided to cut the last two CPOs for the sheriff’s 2005 budget. In the mid-1990s the Sheriff’s Office had seven CPOs. Our county leadership no longer seems to understand the importance or benefits of crime prevention.
The Sheriff’s Office understands those benefits, but has been hampered with budget cuts. Currently, precinct commanders will give talks to neighborhoods that are interested in starting Block Watches, a task normally accomplished by CPO’s. While this is an attempt to keep the Block Watch program going, it is impossible for precinct commanders or even other staff to take on all of the functions that a paid CPO accomplishes.
I have frequently heard our county executive say that he favors crime prevention, yet he does not seem to understand the importance of having paid employees working day to day to educate the county’s citizens on crime prevention.
The number one job of government is to protect its citizens. Our county is less prepared now to protect us from crime than it was one year ago.
Steve Moller
Snohomish
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