FORKS — There are no plans to turn the city Police Department over to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, some 25 Forks residents were reassured Thursday night at a special City Council meeting.
Contracting to the Sheriff’s Office was only one of several rumors spreading through Forks in the wake of Police Chief Doug Price’s abrupt resignation Sept. 26 after only eight months as top cop.
The rumors needed to be addressed, said Mayor Bryon Monohon.
“The resignation of Chief Price caught us by surprise,” he said.
Price handed his letter of resignation to public officials at the Sept. 26 council meeting, Monohon said.
Since then, rumors about the content of the letter have spread, even though the letter has not been released to the public.
The Peninsula Daily News and weekly Forks Forum have filed separate public-records requests with City Hall, which has until midweek next week to produce the letter or give a legal reason why it won’t be released.
A third party was mentioned in Price’s letter, and under confidentiality laws, that person must have time to review it before it can be released, City Attorney Rod Fleck said.
“A few attorneys are looking at that,” he said.
Sheriff’s contract
Rumors had spread around town that the city was planning to contract police services out to the county, Monohon said.
“There has been no discussion between myself and the sheriff’s department,” the mayor said.
Some of the members of the audience supported the idea of exploring a contract with the Sheriff’s Office if it becomes a fiscal necessity, while others told the council they opposed any such contract.
“The sheriff is a political position,” said Councilman Mike Breidenbach.
“What we have here in Forks is not a political position. For us to be able to work with the Police Department to discuss and give direction is very important,” Breidenbach said.
The issues addressed in Price’s letter are generally addressed in the budgeting process, Monohon said
“The city comprises all of us, not one department trying to get its way,” he said
Monohon said the dispute between Price and himself included supervisory staffing levels and in no way reflected the good work that Price did during the eight months he served as police chief.
“There’s no reason to lower the fine standards he has put in place,” Monohon said.
Another rumor: what Price had been seeking as cited in the letter.
Price wanted two more police supervisors to help mentor and monitor officers in the field, Monohon said.
Fleck agreed there was a need for increased supervision at the Police Department.
“Yes, it is a big liability,” Fleck said.
Forks officers often work alone, and county sheriff’s deputies and State Patrol troopers are often off duty at 2 a.m.
Retired chief
“Yes, there is a retired police chief in town,” Monohon said, addressing another rumor. “No, I have not met with him, except that I have received his email offering help.”
The retired chief, Nino Colandrea, was a police chief and private investigator in New York and Florida before moving to Forks this summer.
He was in the audience Thursday night and offered his view of the situation in Forks.
“The officers here do a good job with what they have to work with,” Colandrea said. “You’re right to want to hold on to the Police Department.”
Forks police need to be out on the street and doing safety talks in school, but there is no money in the budget, Colandrea said.
The police really do need the additional supervisory positions Price fought for, and that can be paid for using grants, he said.
Colandrea noted Port Angeles recently received funding for two officers — $550,000 to pay those officers for three years.
“The money is there,” Colandrea said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.