Safe Clark County
Your community - Your Safety - Our Job
Safety of Citizens
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office’s staffing shortages have tremendous adverse effects on the communities we serve. We have stood by and watched as low staffing levels in the jail have caused significant limitations on the criminals who can be arrested and housed in the Clark County Jail. The un-safe numbers of deputies on patrol has caused frequent instances of temporary service cuts and likely upcoming long-term service cuts to the crimes we are able to safely respond to. The result, more criminals, and less deputies on the streets.
For Clark County citizens this means a continued decline in the quality of life and safety in our communities. Community members tell us daily they are fed up with the increases in lawlessness in our county. We have heard your concerns. We want to be there for you when you need us, unfortunately, our county’s absence of commitment to your safety leaves us potentially unavailable at your time of need.
Contact Council MemberSafety of First Responders
Law enforcement staffing is measured in a ratio of officers per 1000 citizens. Washington State has the lowest ratio of all states in the nation. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has the lowest ratio in the state at .57 deputies per 1000 residents [pdf]. All the while, Clark County’s population is increasing at a rate higher than Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties combined.
Staffing levels this low means a lack of adequate cover for deputies responding to emergency calls. Deputies are forced to act without adequate cover, or wait for cover to be available, which could be detrimental to community safety.
Our jail is currently understaffed by 20 corrections deputies. Our jail’s capacity has decreased with these diminished staffing levels, leaving the most dangerous of criminals occupying our jail. The lack of corrections deputy per inmate combined with the unsafe amount of overtime required by our staff is unsafe to inmates and staff alike.
Contact Council MemberCouncil Accountability
The facts are clear. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is not only understaffed, but under budgeted. The County Councilors and County Manager have been provided the information but continue to ignore the facts and root cause. We need our leaders to take community safety seriously. This starts with a reassessment of how they budget for public safety. It is time for our community members to voice their concerns and hold these elected officials and County Manager accountable for their negligence.
Contact Council MemberCurrent Issues
Unsafe police:citizen ratio
The State of Washington boasts the lowest law enforcement to citizen ratio in the United States. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office ranks last in the state in officers per citizen at 0.57 deputies per 1000 citizens [pdf]. As our county continues to grow at a pace far out exceeding all other local counties, our department members leave in droves to other local agencies and outside employment opportunities, and our county administrators fail to see the value of their employee base – providing sub-standard incentive packages; Clark County is on track for a public safety crisis.
Contact Council MemberA reality check
We are facing unprecedented times where the shortage of qualified, excellent law-enforcement
professionals has resulted in stark labor economic conditions. Supply is low. Demand is high.
That means CCSO deputies can take their skills to other agencies and immediately earn
significantly more pay and benefits to support and nurture their families.
We must address the reality of our labor shortage and start fixing the problem. The first – and
most important – step is to retain our current Deputies and Sergeants. Then, we must start
recruiting to fill our vacancies.
Staffing Levels are further dwindling
CCSO Deputies/Sergeants are leaving for other agencies, most notably Vancouver PD
- 118: Current DSG Staffing Level for Deputies and Sergeants.
- 14: Vacancies for Deputies and Sergeants.
- ~11%: Current vacancy rate and growing.
- 12: Number of CCSO Deputies/Sergeants that retired (6) or left (6) for other law enforcement agencies in last 6 months.
- 14: Number of CCSO Deputies/Sergeants that are currently in the hiring process for other law enforcement agencies (6 with VPD alone).
- 28: Vacancies for Deputies and Sergeants if all 14 decide to lateral to other agencies. ~21% Vacancy rate if all 14 leave.
The People want a change
A Survey on
ClarkCountyToday asked "With 48 current vacancies in the Clark County Sheriff's Office,
should Clark County increase incentives and wages to attract applicants in an attempt to address
the staffing crisis?"
The results show (as of April 22, 2022) that just over 93% (798 out of 858) said "Yes" to an
increase.
Contact Council Member
