Time for changes at Poulsbo Police

Published 12:09 pm Friday, March 9, 2012

It’s about time the people of Poulsbo stand up and ask Mayor Erickson to return the Poulsbo Police Department to the time when it was a department for us, and concerned about us.

Almost five years ago, the then-mayor brought in a police chief from California, instead of promoting from within as had been done in  the past. There have been California-type problems brought into town and department that were not here before, like people taking guns, jewelry and money from the police evidence room. The biggest concern I have is that in three years, four officers have shot and killed two people. This is something that had not happened before in the entire history of Poulsbo. The shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later attitude is something I cannot tolerate. Instead of getting into these situations, couldn’t the officers have called for backup, negotiators or a SWAT team?

The current chief has said he was going to stay here until he was able to get a continuing retirement from the city for the rest of his life. We will be on the hook for that payment if he remains until the end of this year.

Save our tax money and get our department back to the way it was — a department of career Poulsbo officers led by a career Poulsbo officer who cares for the people they serve.

J.D. Schuler
Silverdale