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Sheriff's commander updates Benton City on crime, staffing and K‑9 program
Summary
Commander Matt Clark told the council the community remains generally safe, outlined a solved burglary investigation, said the sheriff's office is hiring to fill three vacancies, and reported two new canine handlers are finishing out‑of‑state training and will seek Washington State certification soon.
Commander Matt Clark of the Benton County Sheriff's Office briefed the Benton City Council on March 18 about recent public‑safety activity, staffing and enforcement measures.
Clark said the department has worked several investigations, including a January burglary at a Subway that led to a suspect located in Tennessee. "Our guys worked extremely hard on that and was able to get somebody in Tennessee," Clark said, noting investigations sometimes require withholding some details from the public while the work continues.
Clark described ongoing hiring: the department is down three positions and is actively recruiting; two deputies are in the field‑training (FTO) program and two canine handlers recently graduated from training in California and are completing Washington State certification, after which the dogs will return to local duties. "We're hoping by the end of this month, first part of next month, those canine handlers and canines will be certified through the state," Clark said.
On traffic enforcement, Clark reported nine infractions and one DUI in the last month and praised temporary speed‑limit flags and a solar speed sign as effective tools to slow traffic in problem locations. Council members raised sight‑line issues caused by overgrown trees at some signs and discussed moving signs to improve visibility.
Clark urged continued coordination between Benton City and county law‑enforcement resources and said proactive units and search warrants have been important in pursuing suspects who originate outside the city.
The update was delivered as a staff report; no vote or formal action was tied to the presentation.
