Walla Walla Co. Commissioners approve privatization of courthouse security

WALLA WALLA – A proposal from Walla Walla County Sheriff Mark Crider to the
county’s board of commissioners continued into a Tuesday session with the board
ultimately voting two to one to allow the sheriff to contract with a private company to
provide security at the Walla Walla County Courthouse.

Walla Walla County Prosecutor Gabe Acosta weighed in during the public comment
period Tuesday about the understaffing issue with courthouse security.

“Neither a yay or a nay,” said Acosta on the issue of private security. “But if that’s what
it’s going to take to get security there then I’m in favor of it.”

Commissioner Todd Kimball said he felt the process of getting to this decision was
“haphazard” but felt the need for a fully-staffed courthouse was the weighing factor for
him and why he ultimately decided to vote in favor.

“It’s unacceptable for a county to do that to our court system and to our courthouse,” he
said in response to Acosta’s experiences of having understaffed court security.

Commissioner Bertha Clayton remained in opposition to the proposal. “I don’t like how
it’s come before us,” she said regarding what she felt was a lack of documentation in
the proposal.

Kimball and Commissioner Gunner Fulmer voted to accept the proposal while Clayton
voted to deny it. Sheriff Mark Crider’s plan is to have private security in place at the
courthouse at the end of October.

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Elkhorn Media Group