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PENINSULA DAILY NEWS April 14, 2016 | 75¢
Port Townsend-Jefferson County’s Daily Newspaper
Exercise No jail time for signs on Navy base this weekend Simulated gunfire, shooter part of plan BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
INDIAN ISLAND — An exercise Saturday is intended to connect U.S. Navy teams with area agencies while simulating an attack on the munitions facility. The “active shooter” exercise will begin at 8 a.m. at Crane Point on Indian Island and wind up at about 1 p.m. Navy officials say they don’t expect the exercise to affect the public directly, although people might see flashing lights or hear sirens and simulated gunfire. The exercise provides an opportunity for Navy personnel to work with area law enforcement, fire and rescue responders, and Jefferson Healthcare hospital employees, said Sheila Murray, Navy spokeswoman, in a news release. “We appreciate being a part of these simulated scenarios to test our readiness for emergency situations,” Jefferson Healthcare CEO Mike Glenn was quoted as saying in the release. “The active shooter test will help Jefferson Healthcare staff be better prepared and improve inter-agency communication with our local emergency responders.” The Navy declined to provide details of the exercise. East Jefferson Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Ted Krysinski said the exercise “is the Navy’s show.”
Transporting mock patients His agency is charged with administering triage care and transporting mock patients 11 miles to the Jefferson Healthcare emergency room. About 25 Navy reservists portraying wounded people are to be transported along the route. The probable route is state Highway 116 to Irondale Road to state Highway 19 and into Port Townsend, said Bill Beezley, fire department spokesman. The fire department will supply two ambulances and a casualty bus, Beezley said. TURN
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Free speech advocate Eric Olson, right, confers with attorney Bret Roberts prior to his sentencing Wednesday. Olson received a 90-day suspended sentence and must pay court costs and attorney fees.
Free speech activist to pay fines for PT display BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT TOWNSEND — A man describing himself as a free speech advocate who has been charged with violating city code will not serve time in jail if he doesn’t break any laws in the next year, a District Court judge ruled Wednesday. Erik Olson, also known as Arhata Osho, received a 90-day suspended sentence and must pay $600 in attorney’s fees and $150 in court costs. Judge Jill Landes of the Jefferson County District Court had handed down that sentence in December 2014 but deferred it for one year to allow time for Olson to appeal. Olson was charged with violating the city sign code in a Pope Marine Park display on three occasions in 2014 — March 27, March 31 and June 18 — for
which he was cited each time. In December 2014, Landes could have imposed three 90-day, $750 sentences but rolled them all into one. After Olson’s appeal was denied by Jefferson County Superior Court last year and the state Court of Appeals in January, Olson returned to court and Landes imposed the sentence, suspending jail time as long as Olson’s actions are within the law. Bret Roberts, Olson’s attorney, said that regardless of the outcome, the process worked as intended. “The litigants worked hard, they fought it, they went through an appeal and people were polite and cordial to each other,” Roberts said. “The defendant was respectful and showed up when he was ordered to.” Olson had harsh words about the process, calling it a “kangaroo court” and
that the Bill of Rights “is just a piece of paper.” “There is no free speech,” he said. “This was a waste of taxpayers’ money.” Olson said he will continue his display in Pope Marine Park across from City Hall in displaying whiteboard messages, many of which come to him during morning meditation sessions. Port Townsend Prosecuting Attorney Chris Ashcraft said the suspended sentence began Wednesday. Police said they issued Olson verbal warnings to comply with the ordinance’s limits, which restrict displays of signs to occupying an area no larger than 4 feet wide, 6 feet long and 5 feet high, and when he did not comply after a 20-minute period, Olson was cited. TURN
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Sheriff adding sergeant to heroin battle Clallam approves OPNET change BY ROB OLLIKAINEN PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office is moving a sergeant to the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team to help fight the heroin epidemic on the North Olympic Peninsula. Clallam County commissioners this week approved a patrol sergeant’s position to allow Sheriff Bill Benedict to reassign an existing sergeant to the multi-agency drug task force known as OPNET. “I wanted to re-exert the leadership supervision in OPNET,” Benedict told commissioners in a Monday work session.
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“It also comes at a time when it seems like every time I turn around, people are expressing their concern with the heroin and opiate problem that we have on the Peninsula.” Commissioners gave Benedict the green light to restore a sergeant’s position that had been left vacant since the recession. “It’s a long time coming,” board Chairman Mike Chapman said. “If you need overtime money, if you’re going to make a sweep or you’re going to attack this more, just let us know what you need.” OPNET targets mid- and upper-level drug dealers in Clallam and Jefferson counties. It
consists of local, state and federal law enforcement officers. Recent OPNET supervisors have come from the Port Angeles Police Department. The city can no longer support an OPNET sergeant because of retirements and transfers, Benedict said. Interim Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.
Fourth supervisor “We’re going on our fourth supervisor in a year with that unit,” Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said of OPNET. “We’re looking to add stability out there to be able to be mission-driven and meet our mis-
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sion requirements.” Undersheriff Ron Cameron said the Port Angeles Police Department will provide a corporal for the drug task force. “They’ll still have that participation level that they’ve always had,” Cameron said. Benedict said he could support the new sergeant’s position within his current budget but wanted to apprise commissioners of the long-term need. He said his command staff is “exceptionally lean” and that he underspends his annual budget by $300,000 to $500,000. Clallam County has one of the highest opioid-related overdose death rates in the state, Benedict said. Bill Benedict TURN TO OPNET/A6 Clallam County sheriff
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