When a Camas man was launched from jail after posting bail, his former neighborhood was nonetheless reeling from the police standoff and gunfire that erupted there two weeks prior. Neighbors feared for his or her security. Dad and mom stored their children house from close by faculties. And lots of sought solutions from the police division.
Camas Police Chief Tina Jones convened a listening session Nov. 26 in a gathering room on the Camas Church of the Nazarene. The church sits kitty-corner from the home the place, on the evening of Nov. 13, a Clark County sheriff’s deputy shot Patrick Wetzel.
Jones’ purpose with final week’s assembly, she mentioned, was to share what she may and dispel some rumors.
“People are hearing pieces, sometimes from friends or social media,” Jones mentioned. “It’s difficult sometimes when there’s a level of fear in the community and especially when, like in this case, someone makes bail and then the community is kind of reeling — like, what now?”
Legislation enforcement from a number of businesses had responded to the 2300 block of Everett Road for stories of gunshots. Investigators mentioned Wetzel, 41, was violating a home violence no-contact order that prohibited him from being at his estranged spouse’s home. They mentioned Wetzel later pointed a gun at an armored SWAT automobile earlier than the deputy fired three photographs at Wetzel, who was seated in his SUV in the home’s driveway.
Wetzel was handled at a hospital earlier than he was booked into the Clark County Jail on a slew of expenses. Shortly after his first court docket look, he posted bond, was fitted with a GPS ankle monitor and launched from custody.
Jones’ division fielded messages from neighborhood members as phrase unfold that Wetzel was not in custody. However the chief mentioned she knew there have been doubtless many extra individuals who shared the issues of those that reached out. She determined she would go to them.
The chief advised the handfuls of people that attended the assembly that she couldn’t share some info. Her workplace was investigating Wetzel’s conduct and prior police contacts with him, whereas the Washington State Patrol was investigating the legality of the capturing. She mentioned she couldn’t reply questions on that company’s work. She additionally couldn’t share the entire particulars of the Camas investigation, she mentioned, for worry of jeopardizing that case.
Jones mentioned her method following this incident would’ve been totally different if it had been a Camas police officer who shot Wetzel.
When an officer fires their gun at somebody, state legislation dictates that officer’s company can’t be concerned within the investigation into the capturing. Past an preliminary assertion and launch of physique digital camera video, any details about the investigation should come from the unbiased group investigating the capturing.
Sheriff’s workplace spokesman Sgt. Chris Skidmore mentioned the Camas Police Division was in a singular place following the Nov. 13 capturing, as a result of it occurred in Camas however didn’t contain a Camas police officer. The division was not then sure by the restrictions on an concerned company sharing info.
Jones famous through the discussion board that Camas police’s small ranks meant officers known as for assist Nov. 13 from the sheriff’s workplace and Vancouver police. Her company, Jones mentioned, doesn’t have the tools, like armored SWAT autos and drones, that these businesses possess.
Jones mentioned it may be irritating when businesses aren’t allowed to reply questions. However, Jones mentioned she additionally is aware of how essential it’s to have an intensive, full investigation that both clears officers of wrongdoing or holds them accountable for breaking the legislation.
“It’s definitely a tedious process, and I feel like it’s often not designed in a way that helps the community, in the moment, when there’s trauma,” Jones mentioned. “It’s also often not helpful for the officer involved and their families. … They often also want the information out a lot sooner.”
Camas is lucky, she mentioned, that high-profile incidents of violence just like the Nov. 13 capturing aren’t commonplace within the metropolis of roughly 27,000 individuals. However, which means when these incidents do occur, it may possibly rapidly rattle residents’ sense of security, she mentioned.
“I think when something happens, when people experience fear or uncertainty, it can breed distrust, and I don’t want that to happen in our community,” Jones mentioned.
She mentioned the reception of final week’s discussion board was blended. Some approached her after the assembly to inform her they appreciated the data she supplied. However others advised her they didn’t really feel any safer.
“That’s hard to hear,” she mentioned. “We’re not superhuman. We can’t just wave a wand and wish away all the fears in the world and ensure safety 100 percent. We have limitations in what we can do.”
Along with answering questions, Jones mentioned she hoped the discussion board may very well be a chance for individuals to satisfy one another. The chief shook many residents’ palms as they walked in for the assembly and took down contact info for the faculties. Realizing your neighbors and officers, Jones mentioned, can bolster the general sense of safety.
“I feel like there’s power in information and relationships,” she mentioned. “It’s important to have an opportunity to share with people that I care, our team cares, we’re human beings, and we care a lot about the safety of our community.”