[Vision2020] Re: Joint law enforcement center

[Dan Carscallen]

Thoughts and comments:
The Joint Law Enforcement Center is probably the best idea I've heard in
a long time.  I was tickled when Sheriff Rausch had that as part of his
platform.  I'd like nothing more than getting Moscow's dispatch back on
this side of the border.  I envision having shared dispatch a la
Whitcom, but with some cooler name that says its in Latah County,
because we gotta be cooler than them.

Also, with the Sheriff's Dept. and MPD moving out of their respective
buildings now, that opens up more room for the Courthouse and for City
offices.  Win/Win, if you ask me.

Concerns:
I guess the biggest worry might be in the future cooperation of
leadership.  Moscow's Chief is hired, Latah County's Sheriff is elected.
It took an election to get a Sheriff that was amenable to pursuing the
JLEC (yeah, an acronym is easier to type, but I just used more
keystrokes mentioning that I used an acronym -- I'll stop now).  Another
election could garner us a Sheriff that is not quite so fond of a shared
building/dispatch center.  The same could also be said of a new chief,
but I would think the City of Moscow would probably hire someone who
would commit to continuing the relationship.

Suggestions:
I'd hope both agencies would look at trying to fill an unused building.
This seems MUCH more economical than trying to build an all new JLEC.
Tidyman's jumps out at me as a potential site, with a large parking lot
already available.  I'm not sure of how it is used now, but the GTE
building on Harold street could be another option, but I like the idea
of Tidyman's better due to it's access to the state and county road
system, as well as quick access to major city streets.  Plus, it
"undarkens" that empty store.

More to follow I'm sure,

DC