The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

What the heck’s been happening in the Sheriff’s Office you ask? Well, several positive things happened in 2022 and are carrying over this year as well. Sometime this spring, patrol deputies along with the sheriff, undersheriff, and administrative assistant will be moving to the vacated space on the back side of the courthouse where the Health Department used to be. There will be a welcoming lobby for the public, more office space for the deputies and a more professional setting for employees and visitors alike. Victims reporting crimes in person will be able to speak in private and not in a hallway with employees and the public walking by. We will keep you posted for an upcoming open house!

In 2022 we also acquired a Trauma/wellness K9. Undersheriff Howell donated his chocolate lab puppy, Molly, to the team and she has been acclimating to people, children, and Sheriff’s Office activities before venturing into resiliency training. Molly will be available to victims of trauma as well as first responders in situations that she can lend a caring K9 heart.

The Sheriff’s Office applied for and received a surplus safe boat type vessel to replace our aging boat. Although the boat is not new, it is a larger aluminum vessel with two 200 hp motors with only 67 hours. It is valued at over $100,000 but we were able to acquire it from NOAA for only $3800!

The Sheriff’s Office was able to obtain a $20,000 wellness grant to pay for exercise equipment, wellness resources, and all expense paid training for several Sheriff’s Office employees. Another item we got in 2022 is a cutting edge, premier, first responder wellness app for all staff and their families. This app is so useful that the state is providing it cost free as of this year to all first responder agencies in Washington.

Last but not least, we have funding, thanks to the folks in this county, to upgrade and maintain our emergency radio communication system from here into the future. Our congressional representatives recently confirmed that the $1.59 million appropriation, supported by Rep. Jamie Herrera-Beutler was passed by congress and signed by the president recently. We will be able to upgrade the system quicker now and have the funds to maintain it indefinitely.

We are looking forward to more good things ahead. Let’s all have a better year in 2023, keep a healthy outlook on life, and stay safe!

Sheriff Mark Howie