VanHoose gets show of support

ST. IGNATIUS- — Lake County law enforcement officials crowded the city council meeting last week to give their support to fellow officer P.D. VanHoose, as Sheriff Bill Barron and Tribal police chief Craige Couture outlined further plans to ensure the city has adequate law enforcement resources.

Althou VanHoose lost his status as police chief recently due to a failed physical test, the Sheriff's Office felt he had enough experience to be put on reserve status for the Sheriff's Department, giving him the ability to still provide coverage for the city.

Sheriff Bill Barron said that he has had minimal complaints about VanHoose's service and it was said at the council that VanHoose is respected by many residents, as well as fellow officers.

Sheriff Barron was at the city council meeting to present a law enforcement plan to the council for further coverage and to assure the citizens that the town is currently covered.

Barron read aloud a letter to the council describing his police coverage agreement. He said his office will provide 40 hours of law enforcement coverage per week. This will be a mutual aid agreement. Coverage will be in the form of either off-duty deputies or reserve deputies. The officers will function as deputy sheriffs, use city vehicles and equipment if necessary, and officers will negotiate wages with St. Ignatius. St. Ignatius will pay the officers, and the town will have first liability in any civil claims or workers compensation issues.

These officers will also respond to calls close to town if available — this coverage will be similar to other events the sheriff's office have assisted in, and this coverage will continue until the issue of VanHoose's status is resolved.

Barron added that it would be cheaper for the town to have its own law enforcement but he was serious about providing coverage for the city.

St. Ignatius is a very busy city for its population, handling an average of 170 calls per month. It is busy enough to require a 24-hour per day police department, or five and a half fulltime officers. A fully equipped deputy costs in excess of $50,000 (each) totaling approximately $250,000 per year. If the Sheriff's Office did provide coverage it would take a minimum of two officers working 40 hours each per week, and then being on call, Barron stated.

"The Lake County Sheriff's Office is extremely busy. The above coverage and conditions are what we can provide at this time. If this is acceptable the terms will be put into a formal agreement," Barron said.

There was a back and forth discussion between officers and the public. The major consensus was that VanHoose is good for the town and Barron said that VanHoose will remain a reserve deputy until the police department can make further arraignments.

"My concern with you is that I don't want you to go away, I don't want you to get burned out," resident Kristie Nerby said to VanHoose.

"I've got a ways to go yet," VanHoose said.

Not everyone was in favor of the proposed arrangement. Former police chief Chuck Willet stated that VanHoose didn't have the authority to arrest people, but he later said he was wrong. Barron stated that through the Sheriff's Department VanHoose did have arrest authority.

"P.D. is POST certified and he has arrest authority through my office," Barron said.

VanHoose has completed the reserve deputy requirements that the Sheriff's office has, which includes training that is significantly more than the hours mandated by the state. Although VanHoose failed the physical part of the annual exam given to police chiefs, he meets all the criteria of being a reserve deputy for the Sheriff's office, Barron explained in an earlier interview.

On an unrelated issue, Willet expressed frustration when he asked the council if they thought that it was OK to have read a letter to the public that he had sent a couple of months ago regarding the ongoing lawsuit he had against the city for wrongful termination. The letter was a settlement offer for lost wages and a reinstatement of his former job as police chief, and in the letter said he would resign after receiving the reinstatement.

Willet said the contents of the letter should not have been made public.

Willet revoked his settlement offer saying that his confidence was broken and stated that he was meeting with his lawyers on the matter.

The council told Willet that they felt any matters concerning the city — especially city money — were public knowledge.

"I have always felt obligated to not close a meeting, and have the public be aware of an offer that was made, and what the council has to say about it," City Attorney Bill Schreiber said.

"Any dealings we are doing are public knowledge. We are working for the people of this town," acting Mayor Charles Gariepy said.

In other news, librarian Lynn Lapka resigned saying that he wasn't able to devote his full attention to the library and he has found someone to fill that position. A motion was made to hire Daniel Thompson as the new librarian.

Resigned Mayor John Connot's empty seat on the council has created a need for a new member, possibly two if the council appoints Gariepy as mayor. City Clerk Lee Ann Gottfried said letters of interest are welcome.