As law enforcement officers and residents of Blaine County, we strongly encourage citizens to consider the county's proposal to fund a new public safety facility on Tuesday, Feb. 6. We all have direct knowledge of the need for a new faciIi1y and the hazards that exist for law enforcement personnel and inmates alike in the current facility. Our goal as a communi1y is to move toward restorative justice, offering treatment programs to those with alcohol and drug abuse, to allow those with minor offenses to stay in the community through a work release program, to provide safe jail space for female offenders, and a safe place for juveniles until transported to a licensed detention facility. The county's existing public safety facility does not allow space for these programs to be offered, space for women or to temporarily house juveniles.
The proposed new public safety facility will also provide much needed space for a consolidated emergency service 911-dispatch center. This new dispatch center will allow more efficient and accurate responses to all emergencies in Blaine County.
Thank you for consideration of this important issue.
Walt Femling
Brian McNary
Cameron Daggett
Cory Lyman
Tim Green
Blaine County sheriff and police chiefs of Hailey, Sun Valley, Ketchum and Bellevue, respectively