There was talk about homelessness and population growth and public health. But among the successes and challenges outlined during this week’s State of the County address, the future of public safety and the Clark County Jail stand out.
Delivering a virtual address Tuesday, Clark County Council Chair Karen Dill Bowerman touched on a long list of issues facing residents and county government. The straightforward speech, which detailed accomplishments and continuing efforts from county councilors, was a welcome reminder of the change that has taken place over the past decade.
Not long ago, the county council was hampered by performative politics and extremist policies. Now — at the risk of undue snark — adults are in charge.
Yet that transformation does not mitigate the difficult challenges facing the county, which oversees services such as the courts and elections, plus public safety in unincorporated areas. Amid those duties, the county jail and changes to its operation are prominent.
In September, county officials approved the creation of a Jail Services department, removing oversight of the facility from the sheriff’s office. During her address, Bowerman said: “This transition will allow additional resources to be allocated to the jail, such as mental and behavioral health support and substance abuse. It also allows the sheriff to focus specifically on law enforcement in the community.”
Indeed, there are benefits to the change. As Bowerman mentioned, allowing the sheriff to focus on law enforcement without also overseeing the jail can enhance public safety. But the process behind the move remains disconcerting.
In less than a month last year, county officials raised the prospect of a new department, approved it, and hired administrators to oversee it. Little public input was sought or considered. Adding to the concern is the fact that the head of the new department, David Shook, had recently received only 16 percent of the vote in a three-person primary election for county sheriff.
Residents should continue to question the process, which was not addressed in Bowerman’s speech. Also left unspoken were proposals for replacing the Clark County Jail.
While a state of the county speech might not be the place for detailed policy discussions, county leaders must begin the process of either renovating or replacing the outdated jail. Discussion will be lengthy, and continued delay only increases the eventual cost.
As The Columbian once wrote editorially: “Clark County officials and residents need to have a serious discussion about the Clark County Jail. The 33-year-old facility in downtown Vancouver is in need of expansion or, perhaps, replacement in order to position the county for the future.” That was in 2017, and little progress has been made in the ensuing six years.
County officials must take the lead in forcing difficult discussions about the jail. Any eventual decision will be costly to taxpayers, but improvements are needed for the benefit of both jail employees and inmates — and, therefore, all residents of the county.
During her speech, Bowerman reflected on the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a nascent body camera program for the sheriff’s office, new parks, and efforts to reduce homelessness. “Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in our diverse community,” she said.
Each of those is important to local residents. Yet the specter of a new Jail Services department and the future of the jail also warrant broad attention.
