Sheriff's Deputies to File Labor Complaint Against County
Yakima Co. Sheriff's Office
Yakima County sheriff's deputies plan to file an unfair labor complaint against the county. The deputies say the sheriff's department is dangerously understaffed, while the county says it doesn't have the money to hire new personnel.
Deputy Eric Wolfe says he's concerned about the safety of the people who live in the county, and his fellow officers. Wolfe is the president of the yakima county Law Enforcement Officers Guild, and says the number of deputies in the sheriff's department has dropped from 62 to 52 in the past three years.
Deputy Wolfe said, "possibly, there's going to be results that are negative with more crime."
Wolfe points to former deputy Sean Moore as a good example of the problem. Moore resigned after being arrested and accused of rape, but his position was never filled
"That money was budgeted for that position, so the question we have is where did it go?" Wolfe said.
Sheriff Ken Irwin tells KAPP/KVEW it would not be smart in this economic climate to hire another deputy. Wolfe says without the hiring, having the optimal amount of five deputies patrolling the upper valley, and five in the lower valley, is impossible.
He said, "when you only have three deputies on, if you have two serious calls. You already won't have enough people, and that happens frequently."
All of the people KAPP/KVEW talked to worry the lack of law enforcement will only hurt the county's fight on its drug and gang problem.
Alethia Snavely said, "we just won't have enough to be able to do their job. To be able to save us."
Ian Marko said, "with less deputies I could see that problem getting a lot more out of control."
Sheriff Ken Irwin also said he's encouraged the guild to help find funding for additional deputies.
County Commissioner Mike Leita provided a graph to KAPP/KVEW that shows a steady decline in staffing and funding for many of the county's departments, including the superior court and county administration.
Wolfe says the county won't properly be protected, until it starts hiring more deputies.
A Seattle lawyer for the guild is expected to file the unfair labor complaint next week, to the Public Employees Relations Commission in Olympia.