Grays Harbor County Sheriff: Crime up, Budget Down

Montesano, WA - As budgeting talks continue for the Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff Mike Wheelan tells us staffing is already low "we had 88 people, now we have 80, and we're looking at the possibility of having even less than that." Wheelan said call volume isn't adhering to that trend, and is up %33, regardless; "we could be providing law enforcement services with staffing levels from the 1990's."
The Sheriff's Department was granted an extension last week in order to find %3 to cut from their budget for the county, County Commissioner Terry Willis said earlier this month that they may ask for an additional 4% next year.