PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners will consider an action plan to address institutional discrimination.
Chairman Mark Ozias proposed Monday a statement of values and an eight-point action plan in response to George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Minn.
The draft statement, which commissioners will consider in a future meeting, acknowledges the call to action that hundreds of thousands have made at protests, marches and vigils in Clallam County and across the nation to address institutional racism and discrimination.
“We recognize that Clallam County government is an institution and commit to working with other elected officials, staff members from throughout county government and county residents to re-double our efforts to ensure that Clallam County government does not practice, condone or support discrimination of any kind,” the proposed statement reads.
“We believe that all people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and compassion. We particularly acknowledge the discrimination faced by Native Americans and members of the Hispanic community that marks our region’s past and present, and we commit to a future that continually builds dialogue and relationship with all marginalized peoples throughout Clallam County.”
Ozias said he would solicit feedback from other county elected officials and community leaders before asking his fellow commissioners to approve the values statement and action plan in a “couple of weeks.”
“I think that it’s going to be a really, really valuable conversation and process for the county and for our community, and I’m anxious to delve into it,” Ozias said in a Monday work session.
“Words are fine, but if it’s not accompanied by action and by measurable outcomes, then we’re really just spending time talking,” Ozias added.
The action steps Ozias proposed include:
• Outreach to all elected officials for ideas.
• Outreach to all department heads for ideas.
• Review policies and procedures to ensure the county is adhering to best practices and to identify potential areas of concern.
• Review hiring and outreach practices to ensure that the county is recruiting people of color and others who have traditionally been marginalized.
• Review management and leadership training practices to ensure that people of color and others who have traditionally been marginalized are given equal support and access.
• Work with the county sheriff and appropriate oversight committees to review use of force and other polices specific to law enforcement.
• Consider adding training and/or professional development specific to identifying and addressing discrimination.
• All reports of police brutality will be investigated.
“Really, I tried to put this list together just as a starting point, and I’m very interested to engage others from throughout the organization,” Ozias said in the work session.
“I think good ideas will come from everywhere.”
Commissioner Randy Johnson said he had “no problem” with the proposed statement of values and action plan.
“I find it appropriate,” Johnson said.
“If you don’t keep revisiting issues to say ‘Are we on a trajectory of improvement?’ then I don’t see how we’ll get there,” Johnson added.
“That’s why I’m feeling that we, as a county, certainly should weigh in.”
Commissioner Bill Peach, who was absent from the work session for a planned medical procedure, reviewed an earlier draft and “wanted to make sure that the values statement addressed the Hispanic community in Clallam County,” Ozias said.
Clallam County Administrator Rich Sill said annual training for county employees addresses discrimination.
He added that the Sheriff’s Office, a state-accredited agency, has specific polices around discrimination, standards of conduct and bias-based policing.
“In terms of our employment and hiring practices, this county government virtually matches the demographic makeup of the county,” Sill said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
