Judge to rule on near-future of homeland security training site

PORT TOWNSEND — A Superior Court judge is expected to issue an order Monday morning that specifically defines his temporary restraining order against a Gardiner-based homeland security training operation.

Judge Craddock Verser heard lawyers’ arguments Friday afternoon at a court hearing in connection with Jefferson County’s lawsuit and proposed restraining order against Security Service Northwest.

Glenn Amster, Security Services’ attorney, argued that the county’s proposed temporary restraining order was “arbitrary and capricious.”

The order should specifically define what type of training can and cannot be allowed, he said.

Security Services operates on parts of 3,000 acres owned by Discovery Bay Land Co., also known as the Gunstone family property, on the western shores of Discovery Bay and extending into the Olympic foothills.

Gunfire noise from the training operations can be heard up Discovery Bay, causing numerous complaints from shoreline property owners southwest of Port Townsend and at Diamond Point.

“They say we can continue K-9 training and armed security training,” said Amster.

However, he said it was unclear just how much training involving gunfire would still be allowed.

The county’s appointed attorney, Mark Johnsen, said the county’s proposed order was simple and specified that armed military training operations — especially those involving shooting practice and explosives — was primarily what the county wants discontinued.

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