[1]Pe Ell Mayor Spencer Nichols, head of table, advises the town council not to speak about any personnel matters
Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
PE ELL – The tiny west Lewis County town of Pe Ell is without a police force once again, days after its sole law enforcement officer was arrested for driving under the influence, less than two months into the job.
Town Marshal Anthony K. Corder resigned yesterday, and the situation has one community leader calling upon Pe Ell to dissolve its status as a town, saying it’s a sign it can’t afford to operate.
“Look at the history of the officers we’ve had,” Town Councilmember John Penberth said.
The previous marshal Steve Dawes was on the job about a year, before leaving a few months ago, according to Penberth.
Penberth suggested to the town council last night it could consider bankruptcy or it could think about becoming unincorporated
“We’re advertising for certified police officers, but because of our budget, we’re not getting certified people,” Penberth said. “That in itself shows we don’t have adequate funding to be a municipality.”
He indicated the alternative of paying $65,000 a year to the sheriff’s office for the services of one deputy is unaffordable.
Corder, 27, was hired in mid-February with no previous law enforcement experience. He was the only applicant.
The former Marine was commissioned as town marshal on Valentines Day and had yet to attend the state training academy. His pay for the part time job was $1,500 a month.
He turned in his resignation yesterday, according to Mayor Spencer Nichols.
Penberth’s remarks went largely unanswered, coming during a council meeting dominated by agenda of an upcoming spring cleanup and talk by volunteers on how to coordinate the annual parade.
The mayor, and the town’s legal counsel, cautioned council members not to speak of personnel matters.
One among the audience of 21 individuals suggested cutting the wages of the town clerk-treasurer, because she earns more than anyone who lives in Pe Ell. Town Councilmember Kristi Milanowski asked about utilizing volunteer reserve officers.
Mayor Nichols indicated such a program can only be set up by a paid town marshal.
Following the less than hour-long meeting, Nichols said he has put together a notice for the local newspaper that Pe Ell is accepting applications for the job.
Their preferred applicants will be already commissioned and state certified, or at least willing to become certified. Starting salary will be based on experience.
The deadline to apply is May 12.
Nichols declined to answer further questions about Corder’s short tenure, with the town attorney apologizing.
“We can’t comment on personnel matters while an investigation is going on,” Allen C. Unzelman said.
Because Corder not yet attended training to become a state-certified law enforcement officer, his police powers were limited to inside the city limits in the town with a population of 630.
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For background, read “Pe Ell’s town marshal pleads not guilty to driving under the influence” from Saturday April 12, 2014, here [2]