PERSONALLY SPEAKING BP
PHOTO: iStockphoto.com/Bargais
PHOTO: iStockphoto.com/MattGush
Personally speaking with Bill Elfo Whatcom County Sheriff discusses crime surge, injured deputies Hilary Parker Sheriff Bill Elfo has led the Whatcom County Sheriff ’s Office for nearly 20 years, beginning in 2003 when stepped in as interim sheriff. He was elected to office later that same year and is now serving his fifth term. He started his law enforcement career in Florida and came to Whatcom County in 1996 as director of the Blaine Department of Public Safety. In his 48-year career in law enforcement, Elfo says he has never seen anything like the lawlessness the county has been experiencing over the past several months. He cites some of the recent criminal justice reforms as one
cause, but the reforms make up only part of the challenges law enforcement faces today. Here, he addresses some of those challenges and provides guidance for business owners and operators. Q: Criminal activity seems to be on the rise. What’s going on? A: I think everybody has experienced it, in the unincorporated areas and in the cities, particularly the business community. I’ve heard from business owners who’ve called me regarding people getting out of jail too soon or not being held in jail for shoplifting offenses. They’re noticing more pro-
foundly mentally ill people out on the streets and people using drugs. Some of them are dangerous, and some of them engage in criminal activity, and we’re also seeing a skyrocketing crime rate. Criminals have free reign. Mentally ill people have free reign. It’s really causing our society to be immersed in chaos and lawlessness. It’s far less safe than it was just a few years ago. I speak to a lot of groups and a lot of individuals, and people of all persuasions are really starting to notice this issue. I’m not a sociologist, and I can’t tell you everything that causes crime, but
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MAY/JUN 2022 | BUSINESSPULSE.COM
