Cuts to BCSO budget would be harmful to all
Regarding an email from Sheriff Daryl Wheeler about proposed vacancies in the patrol and detention divisions, it is a no-brainer that this proposed cut from the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office in the face of a rapidly expanding population is irresponsible and foreboding for public safety in Bonner County.
In an email, Sheriff Wheeler told supporters he has several vacancies within the patrol and detention divisions and vacancies within 911 Dispatch. The wages the county offers to candidates are not competitive with other agencies within our region. As a result of this market rate disparity, employees from my office are being recruited to higher-paying positions in Kootenai and Spokane counties.
The open positions include three patrol deputies, one detention deputy and a 911 emergency communication supervisor.
Also noted in the email:
• According to the newly released 2023 Idaho Statewide Crime Profile, crime in unincorporated Bonner County has increased 20.78%. Arrests have increased 10.35%.
• The Bonner County population increased from 45,774 in 2019 to an estimated 52,547 people in 2023, an increase of 14.8%. It has increased further in 2024.
• BCSO Patrol fielded 16,383 calls for service in 2023, and 911 Dispatch dispatched 38,683 cases for service, which included 55,502 inbound phone calls and 21,043 outbound phone calls.
I cannot understand why Bonner County Commissioner and Chairman Luke Omodt would propose such a dent in our public safety. Cutting five positions from the Sheriff’s Office budget is nonsense and cannot be supported by the facts in this matter. This could cost the lives of Bonner County residents!
For more than 16 years, Sheriff Wheeler has kept Bonner County a nice place to live and recreate. I have supported him always as have you. But he cannot do miracles with the cuts to his staff, already in need of additional resources without any cuts.
Please study the attached email from Daryl. The talking points he raises are indisputable. For those who can make it tomorrow, these are the main points you want to stress if you are planning on speaking (I know, many of you will not be able to make it tomorrow with such short notice generated by the Commissioners). If not speaking, you can write the commissioners and send letters opposing the cuts to the local media.
I fear that outgoing Commissioner Steven Bradshaw may vote for the proposed cuts, for a majority voting in favor. I am confident that Commissioner Asia Williams will not touch this virulent toad with a ten-foot pole! Let’s hope that Commissioner Bradshaw proves me wrong and votes “NO” on these devastating cuts to public safety. He used to love to tell me how much he supported the police. This is his chance to prove it.
Bear in mind that with these proposed cuts by Bonner County Commissioner and Chairmen Luke Omodt, I am reminded about Democrat Party calls in the big, bad blue cities and states to “defund the police”, championed by Vice President Kamala Harris and powerful Democrat politicians across America. This has resulted in a public safety disaster wherever implemented. My hope is that we will not join the decadent blue states in a virtual public safety suicide debacle here in red-state America, that is – North Idaho, the Land of the Free.
If anything, I would recommend three additional patrol deputies over the current budget for openers with necessary support staff to deal with our rapidly increasing population in Bonner County. We need to keep Bonner County in our beautiful North Idaho a nice place to live and recreate. A pay increase would be nice to stem the flow of deputies to agencies with higher pay. (We need to stop being a “training ground” for other law enforcement agencies.)
ROM ADAMIK
Sandpoint
President
Safety & Peace Officers Retired to Sandpoint
DOUG HARRIS
Sandpoint
President
Fraternal Order of Police Panhandle Lodge 15