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NEWPORT — At the suggestion of Newport Police Department Chief Wade Nelson, a citywide curfew is taking effect at the start of next month.
This curfew was just one of the ways law enforcement officers like Nelson try to address the concerns of Newport and other Pend Oreille County citizens. He spoke about the curfew at this month’s Coffee with a Cop on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 21.
Also in attendance were officers from the Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as about half a dozen civilians.
As stated during the Monday, Aug. 18 Newport City Council meeting where the curfew was codified into law, the curfew is a “tool for law enforcement” that can be used even in states like Washington, which has more protections for juveniles. Otherwise, Nelson and a few other officers said they cannot even question juveniles without an attorney present, let alone charge them with a crime.
Curfews and juveniles were not the only discussions the cops and civilians had last Thursday morning.
One civilian raised concerns about traffic violations between the northern and southern parts of Pend Oreille County, such as speeding and running stop signs — especially during the “speed hour” around 4 a.m. Pend Oreille County Sheriff Glenn Blakeslee acknowledged her concerns, responding that the Washington Department of Transportation plans to conduct a traffic study on the roads between those parts of the county in September. About onefourth of Blakeslee’s staff were out of the office, he said, which may also be contributing to those violations.
Another civilian complained about the intensity of county law enforcement vehicles’ lights, which Blakeslee said were an ongoing discussion between his office and certain manufacturers. Officers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife continued to warn civilians about bears and the importance of practicing bear safety, a sentiment echoed by other officers.
Though not with law enforcement, a representative from the Office of U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, also spoke at Coffee with a Cop. Steve Bruchman said he attends each one, including the ones held in Metaline Falls, and returns to Baumgartner’s office with feedback from cops and civilians alike.
“When you don’t use your voice, your voice is not heard,” Blakeslee said.
Next month’s Coffee with a Cop is from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18 at My Sidewalk Cafe in Newport and Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Legion Hall in Metaline Falls.
