The Clark County Sheriff’s Office will shutter its Central Precinct offices in Brush Prairie on Jan. 29, citing insufficient funds to maintain the building, which was built in the 1970s as office space.
The building had been partially closed since April 2015, due to accessibility issues in public areas, though department staff continued to use part of the precinct.
The county’s $321 million, 2017-2018 general fund budget did not include an 8 percent increase requested by the sheriff’s office, some of which would have paid for jail enhancements, jail programs, and money toward improvements at the run-down central precinct building.
The sheriff’s office budget did see an increase in the latest budget adopted by the county. The sheriff’s office had $106 million during the 2015-2016 budget cycle, which was increased to $112.5 million for the 2017-2018 budget cycle.
Previously, Deputy County Manager Bob Stevens characterized the debate for The Columbian as “an argument about growth,” adding the county’s revenues have grown and there were no from-the-top cuts included in the budget.
Closing the Central Precinct will help offset gaps in the sheriff’s office’s budget allotment, the sheriff’s office said.
“I’m extremely disappointed to have to make this decision,” Sheriff Chuck Atkins said in a news release. “The central precinct building has become untenable as a law enforcement facility, and without funding to move forward on a remodel or replacement, I have no choice but to close the precinct.”
Deputies will still patrol areas originally served by Central Precinct, but they’ll be based out of the West Precinct office near the Clark County Fairgrounds. All support staff at the Central Precinct will also transfer to the West Precinct.
“My biggest concern is how the closure of Central Precinct will impact our response times in those areas,” Undersheriff Mike Cooke added in the release. “Although our deputies spend most of their time in their patrol districts, they also need to process evidence and complete paperwork at the precinct which will now be several additional miles away from their patrol districts.”
As it has since the precinct office partially closed in 2015, the public can access sheriff’s office services at its headquarters, at 707 W. 13th St. in Vancouver, and its West Precinct, at 505 N.W. 179th St. near Ridgefield.
