Charter Review Commission removes CRC security item amid wider courthouse security debate

The Clallam County Charter Review Commission voted to remove an agenda item titled “CRC Security” after commissioners disagreed on whether the topic was new or already addressed in prior meetings.

Commissioner John Pickett moved to pull the CRC Security item from the agenda; Commissioner Fane seconded the motion. During debate, Commissioner Ron Richards urged the commission to examine how a request for increased security had been routed through the executive committee, saying it "just went up in smoke" and that the commission should be "apprised" if it was considered. Commissioner Tozer asked whether the Open Public Meetings Act might have been violated, a procedural concern cited during discussion.

The commission then took a roll-call vote on removing the CRC Security item. The clerk recorded the votes as: Commissioner Fish — yes; Mister Bennett — abstain; Commissioner Tozer — no; Commissioner Fane — yes; Mister Cameron — yes; Mister Morris — yes; Mister Newell — yes; Commissioner Pickett — yes; Mister Richards — no; Mister Clerk — abstain; Mister Hobson — yes; Commissioner Holy — yes; Mister Sarmiento — no. The tally reported by the chair was eight yes, three no and two abstentions; the motion carried and the item was removed from the agenda.

After that vote, Commissioner Richards moved that the commission add an agenda item to ask the prosecuting attorney whether a Superior Court judge has the authority to designate the entire county courthouse as a no-carry firearms zone. Commissioner Tozer seconded the motion. Commissioners debated the matter and a participant who identified himself as a former county sheriff summarized Washington State General Rule 36, saying the rule "mandates that each court must develop and implement a court security plan" and described local practice that treats contiguous courtrooms and judicial offices as the courthouse for security planning. The motion to add the prosecuting-attorney review did not pass; the transcript does not list a full roll-call tally for that vote.

Later in the meeting Commissioner Richards proposed adding a separate item to consider whether Clallam County should hire private security firms to provide armed guards in the courthouse or require only deputy sheriffs. That motion did not receive a second and was not added to the agenda.

Public comment on security followed. Sequim resident Denise Lapios told the commission a privately hired guard stationed by the public entrance could not reach some people in the meeting room quickly and asked, "Is security for everyone in this room, including the public attendants?" Another commenter, Ed Bowen, urged attention to the placement and funding of security and said the matter remains on his ongoing agenda for the lands committee.

The commission did not adopt any new policies on courthouse security at this meeting. Commissioners who argued against adding the items said the subject is already governed by court rules and that the commission lacks authority to override judicial security decisions; those who supported further review said the commission should at least ask the prosecuting attorney for a formal opinion or consider charter changes in future meetings.