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Residents urge commissioners to protect sheriff staffing as Walla Walla County opens 2026 budget hearing
Summary
At a Dec. 8 public hearing, residents urged the Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners to avoid cuts to the sheriff's budget; commissioners defended past spending, outlined proposed 2026 adjustments and continued the hearing to Dec. 15, 2025.
Walla Walla County commissioners opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget on Dec. 8, 2025, and heard multiple residents urge them not to cut sheriff staffing.
"If there's a cut as small as 5% for our Sheriff's Department, it will take away 2 deputy positions from our County," Sarah Herrera, a Walla Walla resident, told the board, urging commissioners to prioritize 24-hour coverage. Several other commenters echoed her concern, citing delayed response times and the county's large patrol area.
Commissioner Kimball disputed a characterization in a letter attributed to Sheriff Bridal that the sheriff's…
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