Photo By Scott Rodgerson

The topic of a police department in Deer Park has been avidly debated among the Deer Park council members. Jason Upchurch, Deer Park Councilman, opened up to the public about the Spokane County Sheriff’s inability to retain the required staff to serve both Spokane County and the city of Deer Park.

Upchurch pointed out that the Spokane Counties Sheriff Department is helping protect Deer Park but revealed that more protection was needed. However, due to the department being short-staffed, additional protection would be hard to come by. Creating a police department in Deer Park would allow for quicker response times to emergencies, better enforcement of current laws, and a more visible presence of protection.

Asking for the public’s opinion, Upchurch’s Facebook post was flooded with positive and counteracting comments and suggestions for the potential Deer Park Police Department. With the idea of a police department, there are many factors that are taken into consideration; budget, space for headquarters, and the public’s opinion.

The idea of a police department is still in the works as council members and task force debate over the right steps towards whatever is best for the citizens of Deer Park.