As La Center pushes for a final agreement with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) for police services, a commander and two daytime patrol officers are currently enforcing laws in the town.
Commander Phil Sample, who began leading law enforcement in La Center in January following an agreement with CCSO and La Center, believes the two parties will reach a permanent agreement soon. La Center has yet to have a fully-staffed police department and is drafting a deal with CCSO to provide police services in the city.
Since April 12, two CCSO deputies patrol La Center thanks to an early interagency agreement with CCSO. Both deputies work on a rotating day schedule, with one officer patrolling each day.
For shifts without a permanent officer, deputies from other stations fill the role. Sample said officers from neighboring stations are paid additional overtime to patrol during the evening swing and graveyard shifts. Sample noted that Washougal officers also provide extra support as needed.
Sample stated the CCSO is training future deputies to restore the department’s numbers to pre-COVID levels, and these deputies will cover the swing shift to support La Center. Sample anticipates the roles will be filled this summer.
“So, once the county numbers come back up to where they’re going to be, we’ll be shifting two other people here for swing shifts,” Sample explained.
Permanent La Center deputies will be trained on site and paid a standard rate by La Center, Sample said. Earlier this year, Mayor Tom Strobehn told The Reflector that overtime officers receive time and a half payment for their services.
Sample is not participating in the negotiations but was briefed that CCSO is reviewing a deal drafted by the City. He expects a fully-staffed police station to have six permanent officers, with two working each of the three shifts, but no details are final at this time. Whatever the permanent agreement is between CCSO and the City, Sample said he wishes to be a part of it.
“The community has embraced us in a way that, you know, we feel welcomed,” Sample said. “They also know that we are professionals — we have a job to do and they understand and they like that about us, and they come to us with concerns.”
Sample could not provide crime rate statistics before press time, but estimated less than four arrests took place since January. Although crime reports are low, Sample said officers will continue to maintain the law in La Center.
“With a town this size, there are times when there’s not so much activity happening. So you want to go around and just ensure that you’re passing through neighborhoods. People see you’re being very visible. They know you’re out there. They know you’re trying to prevent crime from happening,” Sample said.
