Counties teaming to monitor registered sex offenders

Commissioners from Wahkiakum and Pacific counties this week voted to team up to fund a new full-time deputy to monitor registered sex offenders in the two counties.

Pacific County Sheriff John Didion will supervise the officer and program.

He said the funding comes from the legislature in response to a Pierce County incident in which an unmonitored offender committed further crimes upon release from jail.

The officer filling the new position will be able to meet with and track offenders, Didion said. The volume of calls deputies now deal with keep them from that kind of work, he said, but the new position will allow it to be done.

Wahkiakum County has 17 registered sex offenders, Sheriff Dan Bardsley reported. Of those, only one is level 3, thought to be the most like to re-offend; two are level 2, and 14 are level 1.

Pacific County has 89 registered sex offenders, Didion said. Of those, four are level three, 12 are level two, and 73 are level one.