Meeting Minutes

President John Brewer called the meeting to order at 7:30am.  George Bergner led the flag salute.  Guests included: Dick Goodman and Christina Hurst.  Minutes were read and corrected to change Makah to Elwha, Second Class City to Class Two City, and chamber will meet once a month to Chamber is looking at its meeting format.  Edna moved and Andrew seconded the approval of the minutes as corrected.

Announcements

Bridal Fair on Sunday. Welcome  Home Event for the Coho on March 5, “Get Off The Rock” during March and April as an encouragement to Canadians to shop in Port Angeles. Ferry riders will be given a discount voucher in Victoria to use in Port ANgeles to get shopping, meals and rooms at par.  Andrew mentioned the article about Port Angeles that was featured in the Sunday Seattle newspaper.  John said the Washington Business Association had sent a thank you for the $100.00 check.  He also stated he had attended the Port meeting and talked about the questionnaire that will be asked of all candidates.

Program

Andrew introduced retiring Police Chief Terry Gallagher who is leaving after over 30 years on the job.  Terry said he started out in the reserves, then Army, then Military Police, followed as Sheriff, then more schooling and finally to his position as Police Chief.

He said the drug addiction problem has changed some in the time he has been on teh force.  First it was marijuana, then cocaine, then meth, then prescription drugs and now it is heroin.  He did say that not all users are young and not all users are burglars, but most of the burglars are users.

Police Officers are some of the best educated and trained.  Most officers have a Bachelors Degree and several even have Masters Degrees.  Technology and advancements in health care have helped officers.  The use of AED’s in cars, Naxolone for overdoses and groups like PARI, ANC, PA CAN, locally mean treatment help and not jail is usually available.

Terry said he likes to brag about the crime rate being down, but he said citizens can help by locking car doors, and even their houses.  He feels that of the 52 employees in the Department, they perform better and cost overtime by scheduling and days off.  Rest is important in order to do a good job.  Officers work an 11-hour shift, four days on and four days off.  NOTE:  Overtime has been cut from $300,000 to $130,000.

Edna moved and Andrew seconded that the meeting be extended 15 minutes. Motion carried.

Q & A Period

Cold cases, parenting as part of the problem, addiction rate, treatment programs, legalization of marijuana and other drugs, and body cameras.

John announced that speaker on March 1 will be Mark Fournier from Nippon Paper.

Meeting adjourned at 8:46am.