Thursday, March 28, 2024

Brewster police chief buttonholes legislators in Olympia

Lobbied for justice for victims

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BREWSTER – Police Chief Marcos Ruiz paid a visit to Olympia to discuss law enforcement – or the lack of – with legislators earlier this month about issues that will help law enforcement and justice for crime victims. Ruiz reported on his trip to the Feb. 16 meeting of the Brewster City Council.

“All of these reforms that were done are for the suspect and offender - getting rehab, giving them three chances, go speak to a counselor,” said Ruiz, “but none of these reforms – none of them – speak of the victim, the store owners, the homeowners, the people whose cars have been stolen; there’s no support for them.”

Ruiz handed out to council members copies of the flyer he gave to the representatives he spoke with. The flyer titled Justice for Victims – Balance in Reforms itemizes three concerns:

  1. Legislative changes to drug laws

• Made it easier for those who sell drugs to prey on victims.

• Made more drug related crimes, retail theft, theft of vehicle, vehicle prowl, burglary.

  1. Pursuits

• We can’t allow offenders the advantage over victims by just driving away.

• Diminishes the rule of law in Washington state.

• Affects the quality of life for every resident in Washington state.

  1. Recruitment/Retention

• Washington state has 500 fewer officers than it did a year ago.

• Affects prevention and response time to calls for service.

• De-escalation, proactive policing, supervision require resources to “team up and slow down.”

• Every community deserves a public safety agency that is well trained, well equipped, and well-staffed to deliver the best public service.

Finance Director/City Clerk Misty Ruiz also made the trip and spoke with legislators about the county’s emergency communications improvement project.

“We’re about $3 million short and we’re trying to come up with the remaining funds,” said Ruiz. “It’s about a $10 million project and they have about $7 million from the criminal justice tax.”

Ruiz said the project upgrade the dispatch radios.

“All of the agencies will need different radios,” said Ruiz, “and all of these small agencies can’t afford radios.”

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