La Center is one step closer to having dedicated police services as the City Council approved the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s law enforcement proposal.
During the July 26 meeting, La Center City Council voted 3-1 to begin contract negotiations with the Cowlitz Indian Tribal Public Safety Department on police services. The council were considering proposals from the tribe and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, but the proximity of the Cowlitz reservation and the long-term potential for restarting the city’s own department with the tribe’s support made that option more appealing to the majority.
During prior meetings, both agencies presented their proposals to the council. The City of Ridgefield also made a proposal but later backed out following a decision by its City Council to not pursue the matter.
Proposal comparison
The Cowlitz police proposal was the less expensive proposal, with the estimated cost about $1.1 million in 2024. The Sheriff’s Office proposal estimated ongoing costs starting at $1.5 million for 2024, though the department would phase in deputies to the La Center program, leading to a lower cost at the start of the contract.
“It could be years before you ever saw [the cost] even at $1 million because it depends how long it takes us to ramp up and how fast you want us to go,” Clark County Sheriff’s Administrative Chief Mike McCabe told the council.
The Sheriff’s Office’s proposal also has one-time costs associated with building up a “beat” for La Center. At full buildout, the proposal included eight sheriff deputies and one sergeant staffed for the La Center beat, with the sergeant serving as chief.
Councilor KC Kasberg felt the sheriff’s office contract was more in line with La Center’s plans for a stand-alone department. Given his position as a Sheriff’s Office commander, he recused himself from the vote.
Prior to the vote, Kasberg did say that the cost of the services wasn’t the only point of comparison between the two options.
The Cowlitz police proposal will dedicate five of its officers to around-the-clock coverage of La Center. Kasberg said that proposal will require more negotiations for services that the Sheriff’s Office could provide in-house.
“We really have to decide as a council, what do we need? Do we need fewer services in exchange for less cost and still have a fully-capable law enforcement agency here, or do we go with the contract that’s slightly more expensive but most of the services that we would have to negotiate are already included,” Kasberg asked.
The ability to start coverage was another consideration. McCabe said the Sheriff’s Office could have a sergeant and the first pair of deputies in place by Sept. 1.
“Would it require us to maybe shift some resources around to make that happen? Possibly. If it’s a priority for you, and it’s a priority of the sheriff, we will make that happen,” McCabe said.
The Cowlitz police could start patrolling La Center as soon as a contract was settled, Cowlitz Indian Tribal Public Safety Department Commander Chris Olsen said.
Establishing a presence in the city as soon as possible was a goal for Olsen, who spent 21 years with the now-defunct La Center Police Department.
“I don’t care if they write one ticket, but the people that live here need to know that the police are back in the city, and we’re here full-time,” Olsen said.
Negotiations pending
More work needs to be done before a contract is signed. The information given to the council included “pretty broad-stroke proposals,” city attorney Bronson Potter said. The tribe’s council approved Cowlitz police to negotiate a contract, Olsen said. The tribal council will likely give its final approval of the services rendered.
Though she couldn’t speak for the entire 22-member council, one member, Timi Russin, said prior sentiments from the council, including Cowlitz Indian Tribe General Council Chair Patty Kinswa-Gaiser, supported finding a solution for La Center.
“There has been a commitment from the tribal council and from our chairwoman that we will continue to work in a good way with La Center to do the right thing,” Russin said.
Responding to a question about the tribe’s relationship with La Center, Russin said tribal leadership has changed since issues between the two governments arose years ago.
“The chairwoman has often said, and I don’t know if enough people have heard, that we no longer look to the past of what happened prior,” Russin said.
She said the tribe only wants to be good neighbors and help build the community.
Councilor opinions
Councilor Myrna Leija said, in the past few weeks, she’s received feedback from several residents who favored the tribe providing police services. Although she had worked for the Sheriff’s Office for decades, constituents’ opinions out-weighed any positive sentiment she had for the county.
“When I got on this council, I promised myself and the citizens that I would do what the citizens asked me to do,” Leija said.
Councilor Sean Boyle said his decision was based on the new relationship the city has with the tribe and getting police services back in La Center as soon as possible.
“I think that the Cowlitz Tribe could definitely fulfill all our needs in the city at a price that is suitable,” Boyle said.
Councilor Melissa Fox agreed, adding it would take time for La Center to return to having a force of its own as the city’s economy continues to grow.
“Us having our own police force is a great dream, and we will continue to fight for that,” Fox said.
She mentioned the Cowlitz police’s proposal was more transitional compared to the Sheriff’s Office. Olsen said the tribal department was willing to work with La Center on its goal to reestablish its own force.
The lone vote against contracting with the Cowlitz police, Elizabeth Cerveny, favored the Sheriff’s Office given its experience.
“Both proposals were good, but I think the detail and the length of time that we’ve had the back-and-forth discussions with Clark County will serve us far stronger as we go forward more quickly,” Cerveny said.
