As long-time homeowners and residents of Kingston, we’ve always felt confident in assuming that our property and lives — as well as those of our family, friends and neighbors — were being served by sufficient numbers of local police. Certainly, our high property taxes pay for this basic need for peace and safety.

Recently, our little neighborhood has been infested by what we believe to be an active nest of drug pushers and/or dealers, evidenced by suspicious vehicle and foot traffic, personal exchanges of money for goods at all hours of the day and night on our street, and undesirable tenants occupying the home from which much of this dangerous activity seems to be originating.

We are seriously concerned about our safety in our homes and on our street. We contacted law enforcement about this problem but apparently due to lack of resources and because our situation was not immediately urgent or life-threatening, the response was tepid at best. We also contacted WestNET Drug Task Force, where a report was taken. Finally, we wrote a letter to Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder of District 1 expressing our worry about this seeming lack of attention by law enforcement. Thankfully, we were soon contacted by a very helpful and caring local Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputy, J. Childs, who has now visited us, gathered data, and provided support, information and direction. Thank you, Commissioner Gelder and Deputy Childs.

We eventually learned that apparently because of cutbacks in funding, some essential law enforcement services in unincorporated North Kitsap County have been severely reduced. Where are our priorities when enthusiastic efforts for funding of events such as 4th of July celebrations and other community activities overshadow the importance of funding for efficient and basic law enforcement? We need more sheriff’s deputies assigned to patrol North Kitsap County before the area becomes a safe haven for dangerous lawbreakers.

Susan Shaffer
Kingston