The Snoqualmie City Council roundtable meeting on Monday, March 14, 2005, was disturbing to me on many levels. I am writing this letter to inform Snoqualmie residents that some of the City Council members would like to replace our local police force with officers from King County.
The most important task of government officials is to protect their citizens. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that two members of our City Council have started talks with King County with the purpose of replacing our local police force.
The fact that the councilmen were talking with King County is not in itself condemning, but the underlying circumstances cause one to pause and think. Councilman [Matt] Larson has had a long and much chronicled disagreement with the local force over an incident that he was involved in a few years back. Councilman [Greg] Fullington is a prosecutor for King County, the same county that he initiated talks with about replacing our local police force. Councilman Fullington should readily recognize the conflict of interest and recuse himself from any dealings this city might have with King County.
I found it strange that no mention of this topic was on any agenda, including the agenda that was printed the night of the council roundtable. There was no public announcement or any advance hint that this topic was once again on the table. If it were not for the community e-mail grapevine, no citizens would have been aware of the discussion. Remember, we are talking about the most important task that any government official can do for you.
The men and women who serve as officers for King County perform a difficult and wonderful job, but they are not a substitute for the men and women who live and work in our community as police officers. The council at large should be putting its efforts into figuring out how to keep our local force instead of creating ways to replace it. The local police force is one of the reasons my family moved to Snoqualmie; it is also one of the many assets that sets us apart from other cities in the Valley.
Please remind your City Council members that a local police force is the best way to protect and provide for the safety of Snoqualmie citizens.
Greg Harrelson
Snoqualmie
