Clark County Sheriff John Horch believes more staff and the La Center policing contract that was finalized last week will assist patrol deputies by providing better coverage to the rural north Clark County areas.
On Wednesday, Oct. 16, Horch held his last town hall of 2024 at the west precinct near Ridgefield. During the town hall, Horch told attendees that, for the last 20 to 25 years, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has been the lowest staffed sheriff’s office in the state of Washington per capita.
The sheriff’s office is working to correct that, however. Chief Enforcement Deputy Brian Kessel said, after analyzing the department, that as of Oct. 16, CCSO is short 40 positions from the average the department should be at. Kessel said that includes both deputies and records staff. Currently, CCSO has eight deputies in the Southwest Washington regional law enforcement training academy in Vancouver, with eight more deputies slated for the next class.
Horch said the addition of 16 new deputies out of the academy and the La Center contract will allow the sheriff’s office to have more cars patrolling the northern reaches of Clark County. He also highlighted the importance of residents sharing their concerns with Clark County Council members as a way for additional deputies to be approved.
“There will be bodies up there now to cover those north county cars,” Horch said. “We still need to get our staffing up to have those Yacolt, Amboy cars because it’s a long response time. We used to have it, and our numbers have been, so our hope is that the community speaks up and they talk to our County Council. I can’t do this myself. I can ask. I can show, but I need help. I hope the community contacts the county councilors and expresses what they need.”
Kessel said during the town hall that the sheriff’s office is currently collaborating with the county manager and County Council to work toward approving a ballot measure that would fund up to 40 additional deputies, adding that boosting staff numbers serve the residents of Clark County to the best of the department's ability.
Horch said the department’s first priority is getting the traffic unit staffed properly along with better north county coverage. Attendees of the town hall were most concerned about traffic.
Many of the residents lived along Northeast 119th Street where concerns over speeding have become prevalent. During the question-and-answer portion of the town hall and afterward, the Northeast 119th Street area community members shared their concerns regarding the consistent speeders on the road.
“Unfortunately, the common theme is traffic around the county,” Horch said after the town hall. “And, again, our staffing and our resources are limited, and we are getting better. That's one part of it. It’s a combination effort. It’s tough, and especially when you heard tonight, fatality, it’s one thing to have some speeding in the neighborhood, but when there are deaths from it, it needs to get looked into. So, this is the reason why we have these forums … I write it down. I make sure at least you get follow up on them and things do get done.”
During the question-and-answer, Horch told the attendees that they will see an increase in patrol in the complaint area in hopes of slowing traffic back down to the speed limit.
“I was glad to hear these,” Horch said. “I’m glad they came up and said that because you can hear it in their hearts, they’re concerned.”
