Privatization of County Courthouse Security– What Was the Rush?

Sheriff Crider submitted the following resolution for County Commissioner approval on September 22

”Due to recent retirements Walla Walla County Court Security is currently staffed with two full time Court Security Officers (CSO) and one part time CSO, who is limited in hours due to the social security cap.  Finding qualified applicants has proven to be problematic.  I am proposing to keep the two full time CSO as county employees until they resign and privatize the remaining positions to fulfill courthouse security needs.  The Walla Walla Sheriff’s Office will still coordinate with the county CSO and the private contractor selected as far as scheduling and to fulfill courthouse security needs.” 

“Scope of Work:  The BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) will have to approve the proposal and then advertise for a contractor to fulfill the courthouse security needs.”

Conclusion:  We kindly ask the BOCC to approve privatizing the CSO position and put out a Request for Proposal from a private contractor.”

That’s it—no cost estimates, no specifications to be covered in RFP, no calendar, no background information about the security needs at the Courthouse.  There was no consultation with judges whose courtrooms were to be protected.  No mention of Election Office security which continues to be located in the Courthouse. 

This proposal seemed new to both Commissioners Kimball and Clayton.  Chair Fulmer seemed all in, apparently having been clued in by the Sheriff.

When the other two Commissioners raised questions about the proposal, the Chair hastily took it off the agenda and said it would be considered at the following week’s meeting, September 29th.  He didn’t even entertain a motion to formally table the resolution until the next week.

Why?   

— Kari Isaacson