Community forum: veterans' VA contract concerns, septic inspection delays, police body‑camera records, and calls for accountability

During the Pierce County Council’s community forum on Feb. 25, multiple residents raised separate issues affecting county constituents, including disrupted VA contractor payments, delays in a do‑it‑yourself septic inspection program, requests for council assistance obtaining audit logs for police body‑camera records, and calls for improved police accountability.

Laurie Lee Litman, who identified herself as a 100% service‑connected veteran, warned that contractors who provide medical care under the American Lake VA were not being paid and that some contractors are canceling contracts. She said that unpaid contractors are affecting veterans’ access to care and that contractors were “going after us, veterans, for payment, using our Social Security numbers and information.”

A caller identifying himself as Dewey urged county officials to press the state Department of Health to implement a DIY septic inspection and certification process. Dewey said the Department of Health has “been making excuses, misleading people, giving us misinformation, and flat out lies” and argued the state already has a training video and that the county could implement the program to help low‑income residents, seniors and veterans.

Thomas Wick, calling from Gig Harbor, asked the council to consult with the county attorney and to consider an executive‑session discussion under “RCW 42.3 0.11” to assist him in acquiring audit‑trail logs from Axon for a 2022 incident. Wick said he had requested records shortly after the incident but later learned of audit‑trail logs that would show who accessed or deleted recordings; he said he believes those logs are essential to his safety and asked the council to intervene.

Angeline Nicciardo (on Zoom) urged both the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Puyallup Police Department to improve accountability and responsiveness. Nicciardo described delays in obtaining case records and alleged unprofessional conduct and bias by officers; she asked the council to request precinct‑level complaint processes and to ensure timely public records responses.

Ken Paulson spoke in chambers about a personal case involving a murder conviction and referenced recent state‑level legal changes (he cited a “Jennifer Paulson stranger stalking order”) that he said give judges additional tools to impose conditions intended to protect victims.

Council members responded to several comments. Council member Gruber said she had watched septic inspection videos and called the subject “rather basic,” expressing interest in further dialogue about obstacles to a DIY program. Vice Chair Maria Herrera announced the upcoming Chief Leshay honor walk, noting it as a local tribal healing and remembrance event.

The community forum covered a range of concerns; council members acknowledged the comments and, where appropriate, referred issues to staff or county offices for follow up.