Just one man’s opinion: ‘communication in imperative’

It would seem logical to most that to make efforts to improve communication with the OCSD might start with a separate phone line designated specifically for 911 calls and a designated dispatcher to only answer emergency calls on it. A separate phone line and another competent dispatcher to take calls that are for more personal and not related to an emergency might be a solution for better communication and less stress on dispatchers. 

A sheriff’s office is funded by “local tax dollars” administered by county commissioners. 

An obvious question would be, if the sheriff’s department has been working on a government contract for three years and the commissioners are behind it, why is it just now being disclosed to the taxpayers? When decisions are made involving taxpayers funds without their input it can be a dangerous way to govern. 

Definition of Democracy: a form of government in which the “people vote” directly against or in favor of: decisions, policies, laws, financial appropriations “et cetera.” Citizens vote in competent leaders to run day to day business as usual. Lengthy government contracts are not day-to-day business. If citizens cannot rely on the OCSD to project and to serve them, it can create an environment where they feel the need to protect themselves. No one I know is debating about if the ICE contract will generate funds. Of course, it should! The real issue is the way our elected officials orchestrated such an important decision without the public’s input. That’s “bullying” not “governing.”

Arthur Meyer

Wasola