Lewis and Clark County officials talk current policing practices, mental health funding
Independent RecordJun 25, 2020
"People don't know," Geise said. "Because there is a lot of conversation and they may as well have the facts as we know them."
The meeting included presentations from
Dutton addressed the commission and members of the public, whom he referred to as his bosses, about ways in which his office has adapted with the times. His deputies are trained in progressive policing practices that include greater cultural awareness, emerging issues among Native American communities and how to avoid racial profiling, he said.
After some lawmakers raised concerns during the 2009 legislative session about racial profiling among
He added that since 2003, his office has implemented the use of dashboard cameras and body cameras and outlawed the use of chokeholds by deputies detaining people, although each came with its own caveat. The use of dashboard cameras was implemented because the office felt a deputy's word was no longer trusted by jurors; that the body cameras "felt intrusive;" and Dutton still authorizes chokeholds when a deputy feels his or her life is at risk.
The sheriff pointed to the approximately 540 hours of
"This training, it's expensive, it's time consuming, it takes them off the street, but, man, when you need it, like what's happened here in the last 30 days, man, you really need it," Geise said.
"I can't make
Geise said the county is committed to have future conversations on the topic.
"If we need to having further conversations, everyone should have common understanding of our starting point," she said, later adding that "nobody is seriously discussing getting rid of the sheriff or getting rid of the police."
When asked what aspects of law enforcement have been looked at with an eye for possible improvement, she said they have not yet.
"In the last 30 days, I know that those folks who wear these uniforms have been busy with COVID issues and meetings and protests and counter protests...," she said, adding that the various organizations Dutton is involved with, such as his role as vice president of the
Hunthausen and McCormick gave detailed reports of their efforts on the
Local calls for police reform have mostly included a desire to use funds diverted from law enforcement agencies for social services that have seen state-funded budgets slashed in recent legislative sessions.
McCormick participates in the county's
"I want you to know what you, the taxpayers, support through your tax dollars," he said.
McCormick cited approximately
He also pointed to various nonprofit organizations in the area, such as
"I think this is something that most people don't know, that these are some social services that in other areas that they're talking about diverting funds these are funds that we are already expending," Geise said.
Hunthausen spoke for 30 minutes about the decade-long process of reforming the local justice system, including the
"I think we need to continue to challenge our system," Hunthausen said.
"If you want to know what is a priority and what matters to you, take a look at what you spend your money on, and certainly our county government is spending money and has identified these types of issues as priority to budget money toward," Baltz said.
The commission afforded members of the public opportunity to provide comment on the topic. The half dozen who did expressed their support of local law enforcement agencies.
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