Brier police leave department 'in droves'
BRIER — Until recently, Brier police drove castoff Mountlake Terrace police cars that came with more than 100,000 miles on them. When a tire fell off one, the chief wondered how fast officers could safely drive.
The force lost four of its six officers last year to neighboring police departments, where the pay and opportunity for advancement far exceed what Brier can offer.
The Brier police union, which has been without a contract since February 2003, is negotiating with the city and seeking wage increases. Officers say their pay lags behind even other small-town police forces in the region by as much as 18 percent.
"It's a police department run on skin and bones," said one former officer who moved to a larger city after several years in Brier and asked that his name not be used. "Officers leave in droves, and there's a reason."
Brier did buy three new police cars last year, for $30,000 apiece. And the city has given preliminary approval to adding a sergeant's position, which would give officers in the field supervision and the benefit of more expertise, Police Chief Jeff Holmes said. The most senior officer in Brier has 3½ years on the job.
But with a population of only 6,500 and one of the county's lowest crime rates, city leaders aren't sure they need more policing. And with tax revenue down because of voter-approved initiatives, the city used $170,000 from its reserves to balance the 2004 budget.
"We obviously can't give them everything they want," said City Councilman Carlton Gipson, who is on the police-contract negotiating team.
But he said the city may be able to adopt gradual wage increases to get pay closer to those of comparable departments.
"We have the officers' best interest in mind, as well as the best interest of the city," he said.
Holmes agreed that his officers are underpaid and lack advancement opportunities. A veteran of 20 years on the Edmonds force, Holmes took over in November 2002 and has lobbied the city to increase pay and training opportunities, add supervision and upgrade equipment.
The changes, Holmes said, "would improve morale and help our revolving door" of police officers.
Chris Casillas, a labor attorney representing the Brier Police Guild, said the high turnover costs Brier taxpayers money. Any new officer who isn't already accredited in Washington must spend 19 weeks at the state training academy at city expense.
And because pay is low in Brier, most of its new hires are inexperienced and must attend the academy, Casillas said.
Brier police acknowledge that small-town police work isn't terribly demanding.
Holmes described a typical Brier shift as "driving in circles," making traffic stops and answering occasional domestic-violence calls. He said he understands that highly motivated officers will want to move on to more-challenging assignments after a few years in Brier.
Yet on any given night, Holmes said, Brier police may be called into situations as dangerous or threatening as those faced by Seattle or Tacoma officers.
"The work still can be dangerous," the chief said. "They should be paid not for what they do but for what they may have to do."
Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart approached Brier last year about dissolving its police department and contracting with the Sheriff's Office for coverage. Several smaller communities have turned to the Sheriff's Office to provide deputies and cars, as well as the oversight and potential for advancement that small-town police departments lack.
But the service comes at a price.
Stanwood, which has 3,400 residents, pays $900,000 annually for its sheriff's services. Holmes said the county's contract offer to Brier would have cost the city about $200,000 more than the $517,000 it spent last year.
The City Council never seriously entertained the offer, Gipson said, not because of the money but because it wanted to maintain control over the department and ensure its quality.
"The level of service is much better if we have our own force," Gipson said.
The police union's attorney warned that service will deteriorate if pay and working conditions don't improve.
"They enjoy working here, enjoy serving the people of Brier," Casillas said. But, he said, "Brier's ability to attract new talent and keep them there is severely limited."
Lynn Thompson: 425-745-7807 or lthompson@seattletimes.com