Re-open Jail Beds

Despite regular statements from the Board of Commissioners on the need for cities to participate in funding the jail, they've never approached a solution that costs the citizen no extra money - utilizing partnerships with existing reserve officer programs.

The biggest problem with the commission currently is the failure to properly utilize its resources. They expressed the need for partnership without reaching out for that partnership; I resolved that for them by talking with our chief in Coos Bay.

They said their insurance wouldn't let them use volunteers, but they'd never reached out to learn if there's a way; I'm the first and only member of the board of trustees for their insurance from the south coast, all they had to do is ask but they didn't. I cleared the idea through my colleagues at City-County Insurance, all it takes is partnership with a reserve officer program to meet criteria.  

They've demonstrated a lack of awareness that capacity can be increased by reducing overhead expense, utilizing reserve officers to cut overtime expense. At the end of the day, John is the only commissioner I have seen engaging in the pursuit of a solution, and even then the assets to effect that change were missing. I can bring that knowledge and that collaboration to a body currently missing that asset.