In spirit of full disclosure, I am a retired Washington Department of Corrections employee having worked for the agency for more than 20 years.
So when I pick up my newspaper and read friends and former co-workers are in search of an escaped inmate, my heart goes out to them, knowing full well that they are working day and night to protect our community with the thought in mind that someone is planning to blame them for the incident.
When I hear the outcry over the death in custody of a high-level prisoner in another state, allegedly on suicide watch, to read that officers had worked overtime for days, which could contribute to the lack of attention to this prisoner, knowing that the thought in their minds is that someone is planning to blame them for his death.
When I hear that the prisons located near my hometown, are seriously underfunded and understaffed, and remembering that for most of my career, I had to battle for staffing and funding for staff, it is time to say enough.
Local newspapers, recently ran an article that stated our governor, while on campaign for president of the U.S., has spent from March through July, about $580,000 of taxpayer money and has been out of state 60 percent of that time.
Come on home, Governor Jay Inslee, get back to work, give up your personal goal of solving the climate change conundrum and provide the support, both personal and financial, that those brave men and women who do protect and serve need.
Nedra Reed,
Forks