It should be county council’s No. 1 priority

In 1997 the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office was asked by the county council to develop a process of determining the number of deputies necessary for the protection of Snohomish County citizens.

The result was a computer program. It enables the sheriff’s office to record certain criteria and find the need for deputies. The findings called for an additional 46 deputies but the vast majority of these positions have remained unfilled at this time.

The state Legislature authorizes counties to build and maintain roads, enforce the law and collect taxes. With a growing population, economic growth and demand for a higher standard of living, legislation has been enacted which encourages counties to develop open spaces, parks and recreation, and solid waste programs through taxes and grants, but not at its deprivation of its priorities. Public safety is the No. 1 priority.

Criminal activity affects each of us daily with car prowlers, shoplifters, burglaries, child abuse, violent crime, the list goes on and on. It raises our insurance rates and consumer prices. It destroys the very social fabric of our communities – one of trust. Public safety is a state mandated priority. I feel that those of us who reside in Snohomish County deserve to know that our public safety is the No. 1 priority of our elected officials. Don’t you?

Snohomish

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