Clallam County Administrator Todd Milke told the Charter Review Commission the county has used a private security contractor for about two years to provide courthouse security when correction officers are short, and that the current contract with Security Services Northwest requires guards "anytime the building is open to the public." Milke said recent events prompted a policy review but did not reflect a new, commission-directed hire.

Why it matters: several commissioners and members of the public said they learned about heightened security through emails and posts rather than an open meeting, raising questions about transparency and whether the executive committee acted beyond its authority.

Milke said the county’s use of contracted guards is not new. "Our contract states that we will provide security. Our contract with the vendor, Security Services Northwest, currently, is that they will provide security services anytime the building is open to the public," he told commissioners. He said the county switched vendors about three months ago and that the sheriff’s office continues to oversee courthouse access and security policy.

Milke also said the Superior Court bench issued a proclamation under court rule (referred to in the meeting as GR 39) declaring the entire courthouse weapons-free, and that the county was implementing measures to help enforce the judicial bench’s directive. He said the county is obligated to control access to court facilities under state law and that the presence of private guards assists the sheriff’s office amid correction-officer staffing shortages.

Commissioners pressed for more documentation on the decision-making chain and the contract cost. Commissioner Richards said he had read emails suggesting Chair Fish and a commissioner had requested security for one member and that he wanted proof of the claimed hourly rate. Administrator Milke answered that the contract specifies building coverage and that county staff reviewed policy after a tense meeting, but he said the contracts were entered and managed by the Board of County Commissioners and predated the current Charter Review Commission’s meeting schedule.

Public commenters expressed strong concern about transparency and free-speech implications. Mimi Smith, who identified herself as speaking from Port Angeles, urged the commission not to use security "at the people's cost," and John Worthington said he feared a double standard in how participants are treated in meetings.

Outcome: The commission did not vote to change security policy. Commissioners instructed staff to provide documentation and asked the county administrator and sheriff’s office to clarify contract terms, hours of coverage and the policy that triggers guard deployment at future meetings or by email request.

Next steps: Staff will provide written documentation on the security contract, hours and costs and clarify the county’s policy for when private guards are used. Commissioners asked for evidence showing who requested extra coverage in specific instances and for a clearer public record of executive-committee communications that touch on facility security.