Study proposal rejected

Tempers flared Tuesday when Spokane Valley residents took the City Council to task again over a proposed study of the city’s contract with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, with one resident accusing the council of lying to the public. The study proposal was eventually shot down in a 4-3 vote.

Mayor Rich Munson twice warned residents to be courteous and respectful when addressing the council. “If you’re not, I will ask you to sit down,” he said.

Resident Richard Behm said the council had misrepresented the study contract by saying it wasn’t aimed at replacing the Sheriff’s Office when the study goals clearly state its aim is to investigate “establishing an independent police department.”

“Gentleman, you have been lying to this audience tonight,” Behm said before he turned and walked away from the podium.

Munson banged his gavel and rebuked Behm for his comment. “I’m sorry,” Behm said. “I’m angry and you made me that way.”

“This chair will not tolerate that kind of language,” Munson said.

The contract with the International City/County Management Association would have examined the current police contract and make recommendations for improvement of the contract as well as studied the feasibility and cost of establishing a city-run police department. The city has annually contracted with the Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services since the city was established.

All but one of the speakers was firmly against the city considering dumping the Sheriff’s office and all were unanimous in their praise of Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich. “This guy has done more for law enforcement,” said Scott Lanes, a businessman, who said that since Knezovich took over the level of service and police attitudes have changed for the better.

Jennie Willardson said consulting firms can be useful, but that she doesn’t think any sort of study needs to be done. “I personally don’t see why we need this when we already have the most cost-effective law enforcement in the state of Washington,” she said.

Edgecliff SCOPE president Patrick Martin said it seems that the city wants its own Police Department just because other large cities do. “I think that’s kind of a vain goal,” he said. “We have an incredible Sheriff’s Department here.”

Former City Council member and mayor Mike DeVleming was the only one who spoke in favor of the contract. It’s the council’s job to be good stewards of the public’s tax dollars and they should know their options, he said. “I believe you’ll find the arrangement with the Sheriff’s Office is a good one. I hope this leads to a long-term agreement.”

Councilman Gary Schimmels, who was absent at last week’s meeting when the issue was first brought up, agreed that forming a new police department seemed to be the goal of the study. “You can call it anything you want, but that’s part of the aim of this study,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair to the public, I don’t think it’s fair to the Sheriff’s Department or any of the SCOPE people.”

He said he didn’t want to “upset the apple cart.” He also noted that the contract would cost $126,500, including $16,500 in travel expenses. “I will not support that expense.”

Councilman Bill Gothmann said the city would essentially be asking the Sheriff’s Office to open their books for the assessment. It’s common for city departments to be reviewed that way, but not contractors. “We need to treat him as an independent contractor,” he said. “This is setting a precedent that we can walk into your back office and open your books. I’m going to suggest, publicly, that the sheriff should refuse the assessment.”

Councilman Steve Taylor said it was unfortunate that the public seems to believe that the city wants to get rid of the Sheriff’s Office. “That’s really unfortunate,” he said. “We need to operate this city. We need to have alternatives in place. We have to have contingencies ready.”

The proposal to do the study failed on a 4-3 vote, with Schimmels, Gothmann, Rose Dempsey and Diana Wilhite casting the deciding votes.

Wilhite said she was in favor of doing some sort of assessment on the work being done by the Sheriff’s Office, but thought the current proposal was too broad. “I think we need to embrace the community and their thoughts,” she said. “I feel we need to go back to the drawing table.”

Knezovich was not invited to address the council and said after the vote that no one from the city approached him about the study. “I think this could have been a smoother transition if we had all sat down at a table rather than be told this study would be done,” he said.

Knezovich said he is always willing so sit down with the City Council and city manager to discuss the contract. In fact, he recently sent the city a letter requesting meetings to discuss the upcoming contract renewal. “I want to talk with them about our concerns,” he said. “What do you want from us? You’ve never told us.”

In fact, representatives from the Valley Mall recently requested that the Sheriff’s Office open up a storefront in the mall. Absent input from the city, Knezovich said he plans to open up an office there by August. No deputies will be stationed there permanently, but they will come and go throughout the day and add patrols of the mall to their schedule.