Franklin County jail takeover is rash move. It demands more thought | Editorial

A long-simmering feud between Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond and county commissioners may come to a head Wednesday morning.

At their regular meeting, commissioners will consider a resolution to take over running the county jail and security at the courthouse. They should put that plan on hold until they’ve had a real discussion.

Raymond found out about what he called a “hostile takeover” only because it appeared on the commissioners’ Wednesday agenda. There was no discussion with him, no time to consider how to transition smoothly between management, no public engagement.

He has been sheriff for a decade and plans to retire next year. If the county wants to transition to a different model, that seems a much better time to enact change.

Meanwhile, commissioners are gaslighting the public — or deluding themselves — about why they are considering this change. Their resolution cites recent state audits that found mismanagement of jail contracts. At best one might interpret the audits as blaming both the sheriff’s office and county staff, but ultimate responsibility falls on the county administrator.

The jail’s operations cost about $10 million annually — nearly one-fifth of the county’s budget. Careful oversight certainly is warranted.

Commissioners should slow down, talk to the sheriff and explain clearly to the public why they think this is the best move for taxpayers and public safety.

Spend some time on a transparent fact-finding inquiry, like Klickitat County commissioners did before making a similar decision. Then hold a public hearing or two. If there’s a compelling case at the end, plan an orderly transition. There’s no need to rush into a change.

We wish this kind of reckless behavior were unusual coming from Franklin commissioners. Dysfunction has defined county governance for the past few years.

Meetings have descended into bickering and shouting. Staff turmoil has led to turnover, including hiring another new county administrator with little relevant experience. Criminal investigations have occurred. And paranoia has led to some odd decisions.

Commissioners Clint Didier, Stephen Bauman and Rocky Mullen seem more interested in pushing culture war issues than implementing effective governance.

Didier especially comes off as a thin-skinned bully. Having feuded with Raymond in the past, Didier now exacts his revenge. Surely county voters can find someone more interested in governing than fighting when the county is in the middle of a budget crisis and the costs of these moves are unknown.

Franklin County would not be unique in having the county manage the jail. At least a half dozen counties have the same arrangement. In fact, Benton County went that way six years ago. Benton commissioners assigned jail operations to a newly created County Corrections Department. Jail guards ceased to be sworn sheriff’s deputies and became regular county employees.

Despite some political recriminations after the decision, the new jail commander reported improved staff morale, an almost two-third reduction in overtime and enhanced workplace safety. That’s hardly surprising given how unpopular then-Sheriff Jerry Hatcher was. Voters recalled him two years later.

Unlike Franklin commissioners, Benton’s gave it some time. Allegations of Hatcher’s impropriety had been circulating for months, and commissioners introduced the idea of changing jail management weeks before a formal proposal appeared.

The state constitution establishes the role of county sheriff. Voters elect them and hold them accountable. Sheriffs do not answer to county commissioners.

State statute enumerates six primary powers and responsibilities sheriffs have to conserve the peace. They include things like arresting people who break the law, serving warrants and suppressing riots. In other words, the sheriff’s core role is law enforcement. Running the jail and courthouse security are not mandates.

That sheriffs do run jails and provide courthouse security in most counties is a matter of historical convenience. It makes some sense to have sworn deputies ensure that inmates are safe and safely contained and that courthouses are secure.

But that’s not required, and if Franklin County wants to go in another direction, it should present clear and compelling evidence for change, not just ram it through because commissioners are feuding with the sheriff.