The city of Oakville has been in discussions with the Chehalis Tribe about the possibility of the tribe policing the area instead of the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Ralph Wyman, of the Chehalis Tribal Police, was present at the Dec. 8 city council meeting to answer questions about the possible switch.
Oakville Mayor Thomas Sims said the city is currently in the discussion phase, which started toward the end of November and the beginning of December. He said if the change is approved, it would not be in the near future.
Although currently in discussions, Sims said it would be a year after the contract is designed before the switch to the Chehalis Tribe could happen because the city would have to provide the sheriff’s office with a year’s notice before they canceled its services. Sims said the ultimate goal is for the city to have police coverage close by.
“We are so far out in Grays Harbor, we’re the most easterly city in Grays Harbor, away from all the big cities…” he said. “The sheriff’s (deputies) are more than likely always down there. We want protection close to home for us.”
Sims said the tribe would provide quicker response times, and he said many of the officers already know the community and repeat offenders.
“Most of the officers have dealt with most of our criminals before,” he said. “They know the area, our bad people are the same as theirs. Our communities are so intertwined that everyone knows everyone.”
The switch would make officers more personable since a connection would already be established, much like when Oakville had its own police department in the mid-2000s, he said. Budgetary issues forced the city to turn to the sheriff’s office for patrols.
Sims said the only disadvantage is people do not believe they have the authority to deal with the Chehalis tribal officers since they are tribal police. However, he said the officers would be deputized as Oakville police officers, erasing that question.
The financial portion of the agreement has yet to be decided, and Sims said either the tribe or the city council may decide they are not interested in the switch in coverage. He hopes to have open meetings for the public once the contract is prepared, although no time frame was given for when it would be completed.
