WW commissioners to consider proposals from sheriff’s office
By Dan Thesman on Monday, October 21st, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA COUNTY – The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners will consider two proposals from the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office when it meets today (Monday) at 11 a.m.
The first proposal from Sheriff Mark Crider is to use approximately $433,000 in motor vehicle fuel tax funds to hire four additional deputies over the next four years beginning in 2025. The costs would cover wages, benefits, and equipment.
The additional four deputies will allow each squad to have a dedicated traffic deputy to increase the agency’s visibility on county roads and provide backup to current deputies.
The second proposal is from Chief Civil Deputy Janey Gutierrez to apply for one-time funding of $80,000 from the Attorney General’s Office for license plate readers and other items to help combat gun violence and promote firearms safety.
License plate readers provide real-time alerts on vehicles of interest allowing law enforcement to quickly identify and track potential suspects involved in gun crimes, thus improving the agency’s ability to respond to incidents and gather evidence at the scene.
The grant would also be used to educate gun owners on the proper ways to store their weapons, plus purchase firearm lock boxes, create/purchase educational materials, and other items to hand out at the public for free.
