Letter: Vancouver Police union president urges support for Proposition 5 to improve public safety

Vancouver Police Officers Guild President Jeff Anaya urges community members to support Proposition 5 and help turn the tide on public safety in Vancouver

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

As the president of the Vancouver Police Officers Guild, I feel compelled to address the critical issue of public safety in our community. Recent statistics illustrate an alarming trend that has reached a tipping point, and it is imperative that we take action to ensure the safety of our citizens.

Currently, the Vancouver Police Department operates with 21% fewer officers per thousand residents compared to other Washington cities of comparable size. This staffing deficiency results in our officers carrying a staggering 127% higher workload than their counterparts across the state. This is not just a number; it translates to over 3,000 cases going uninvestigated each year due to low staffing levels.

Washington State is the lowest staffed for police officers per thousand residents in the entire country, and Vancouver is unfortunately near the bottom of that list. As our city continues to grow and evolve, the demand for adequate policing only increases. It is crucial to recognize that we need more officers now, even before considering future growth.

It takes approximately one year for a newly hired officer to be fully trained and on patrol alone, factoring in time spent in the academy. As a result, we have seen a significant increase in call response times. With new state laws and policies requiring more officers per incident, the pressure on our already stretched department intensifies. Proactive policing has dwindled to a bare minimum, leading to an uptick in traffic complaints and fewer calls for service on lower-level crimes. Citizens have stopped calling the police for minor crimes because they believe police will not respond. Our officers want to do more for this community, but we need the resources to make that happen.

Proposition 5 addresses these urgent issues by providing funding for 13 additional officers and necessary support staff, as well as covering judicial costs. The financial impact on our residents is minimal — approximately $75 annually for a home valued at $500,000, which is about the cost of a cup of coffee each month.

While we all feel the strain of rising costs and taxes, we must prioritize public safety as one of our most important commitments. If we are to invest in anything, it should be in the safety and security of our community. The taxes collected will be directly utilized to fulfill our mission of providing better public safety for all Vancouver residents.

I urge our community members to support Proposition 5 and help us turn the tide on public safety in Vancouver. Together, we can ensure a safer future for our families and our city.

Jeff Anaya, president Vancouver Police Officers Guild
Brush Prairie resident