Public commenters urge council to affirm due‑process stance on immigration and raise 911 anonymity concerns

Two residents used the public‑comment period at the July 1 meeting to press the council on civil‑rights and public‑safety process questions.

Joshua Treadway described national immigration enforcement practices—he referenced high‑profile raids and detention facilities—and urged the council to issue a statement or resolution affirming that “due process is not optional” in Oak Harbor and to protect civil rights for veterans, military families and immigrants. He told council that limited local power does not preclude issuing a civic statement and urged action.

Valerie Alanis (speaking on behalf of a friend who wished to remain anonymous) said she was concerned about difficulties reporting crimes anonymously to 911 and described experiences she said included dispatchers requesting personal details such as dates of birth. She asked how the city’s 911 partner, ICOM, uses caller ID, GPS and other technologies and whether callers can remain anonymous; Chief Slovak and other staff responded that callers may remain anonymous and that dispatcher systems collect contact information to generate records, but that ICOM is a separate governmental entity and that some data could be redacted in public‑records responses.

Council members acknowledged the concerns and clarified that the city does not directly control ICOM operations, but that city representatives sit on ICOM’s board and that staff will pass constituent questions to that body.