Sheriff's Review 2007

•  During my campaign for office, several issues of concern were identified. First, the American flag was not part of the uniform. Within thirty days of taking office, the American flag is now displayed proudly on every uniformed deputy sheriff and displayed on every marked patrol vehicle in respect to our country and in honor of those who have bravely served. Additionally, I wanted to reinforce the message to my deputies that we are public servants and the flag is a daily reminder of our commitment to our citizens.
• Next, I believe that in order to move forward, you must have a direction in which to travel. Therefore, we have adopted Mission and Vision Statements to guide us toward our future goals. One of our primary guiding principles is to develop partnerships with others in our community. I am proud to say that our office has reached out to other law enforcement agencies, schools, private citizens and public entities in the county, through the monthly Sheriff's Law Enforcement Breakfast meeting. We are all now coordinating our efforts toward the common goal of making Mason County a safer community for all of us. One such example is the agreement to use a common radio frequency and procedure at our dispatch center. As a result, the four primary law enforcement agencies (Mason County Sheriff, Shelton Police Department, Squaxin Island Tribal Police and Skokomish Tribal Police) can directly communicate to better serve the community and improve officer's safety.
•  Working in a cooperative effort with the county commissioners a new Finance Manager position was created. As a result many improvements have been made by implementing more professional accounting practices to our daily business functions. As such we continue to build a more fiscally responsible Sheriff's Office accountable to our citizens. Further, we anticipate being able to more efficiently forecast public safety needs for the community as well as the associated costs.
• Two sergeants positions were added so that for the first time, Mason County citizens have the comfort of knowing there is full time, first level supervision, working twenty four hours a day. Leadership is a key component of our plan. These sergeants now provide full time leadership and better risk management for our citizens.
• As part of our goal to better communicate with the public, a new website has been developed. Your Sheriff's Office now has the ability to update you with the most recent information available and view pictures of our most recent accomplishments such as our new Narcotics K-9 unit, "Kona". She is the first Narcotics K-9 in the history of the Mason County Sheriff's Office. "Kona" was made possible by community partnerships with the Washington State Patrol, private citizen donations and local business donations. To see "Kona" please click here.

• The Sheriff's Office has increase the number of deputies certified as boating safety officers for marine safety education and enforcement. Eleven of our forty eight commissioned deputies currently meet the certification standards.

• Our administration has also acquired some other new assets at little or no cost to Mason County taxpayers. Through community partnerships, the Yamaha Corporation donated two Yamaha Wave Runner personal watercrafts to our Marine Patrol unit, to increased the number of patrols on our Mason County waterways and to provide quicker responses. South Sound Honda contributed half the cost of an all terrain vehicle (quad), to assist our Specialized Forest Products unit in reducing thefts of forest products that result in decreased funding to our public schools as well as assisting efforts in marijuana eradication and narcotics interdiction.
• In recent years the calls deputies respond to have become increasingly more violent and dangerous. The Sheriffs Emergency Response Team (SERT) has responded to a number of armed and barricaded person incidents. In order to make our deputies safer in these circumstances, I purchased a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV). This The cost of this vehicle was one dollar through a government program designed to enhance local law enforcement agency capabilities. This vehicle has greatly assisted with the peaceful resolution of these situations which is the in the best interest of our community.
• Due to the increased frequency of violent calls, stressful situations and community needs, I have instituted a chaplain program at the Mason County Sheriff's Office. This program is recognized by the State of Washington and the Criminal Justice Training Commission. These volunteer chaplains are available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. They assist any community member or emergency service organization in need of their services. Please visit the

• We will soon launch information about the Chaplain's Program on our website. During the last ten months our volunteer chaplains have donated hundreds of hours in service to the community and to the department.

While we are proud of our accomplishments we still face challenges.

• For many years the Mason County Sheriff's Office has served as a training ground for other law enforcement agencies throughout the state. Historically many of our deputies have left the Sheriff's Office for other agencies, but continue living in Mason County and commuting to the neighboring communities for employment. On average, our deputies answer 61% more calls for service than our surrounding agencies, for 18% less pay. Consequently, the turnover has been so fast that positions in the Sheriff's Office have been continuously vacant for years. This results in fewer deputies to respond to your calls for service. Members of the Board of Commissioners previously agreed, if all of the open deputy positions at the Sheriff's Office could be filled, two new deputy positions would be added. The staff in my office has worked very hard. I am pleased to say, that for the first time in decades, the Mason County Sheriff's Office has every deputy position filled. We look forward, with great optimism, that the additional two new positions will be added to the Sheriff's Ooffice this year, moving one step closer to meeting law enforcement best practices recommendations for minimum staffing for law enforcement agencies of our size.
• The Washington State Patrol has announced it will no longer be patrolling or responding to calls for service on Mason County roads in 2008. Chief Batiste has decided that the patrol will focus their efforts on State routes. Mason County is among the last three of the thirty-nine counties state-wide that does not fund a Sheriff's office traffic unit. As a result, the Mason County Sheriff's Office will be expected to cover an additional 4,200 traffic related contacts for service in 2008. That represents a 20% increase in calls for service the Sheriff's Office will have to absorb. The Washington State Patrol has told me it takes five full time trooper positions to cover this workload in Mason County. Since taking office in January, I have related my concerns to the commissioners on the issue both verbally and in writing. I ask the community for support in encouraging our County Commission to make public safety a priority in Mason County and add the requested traffic deputy positions that will be needed to adequately protect our citizens and community.
• One of the many goals that I have for Mason County is to have a fully functional North Mason County Sheriff's office in the Belfair area. Since November 2006, I have been working with community business leaders to make this goal a reality. The citizens of north Mason County deserve a professional and functional sheriff's substation they can be proud of and that can serve the needs of the North Mason community.

Yours truly,

Casey Salisbury
Mason County Sheriff