Pinehurst Police Department set to return

By CHANSE WATSON

Managing Editor

PINEHURST — Following the cancellation of the contract between the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Pinehurst in late August, city officials have been exploring their options in terms of who can fill the role of primary law enforcement agency.

As they approach the official end date of the contract with SCSO on Oct. 20, Pinehurst mayor Bob Jutila and the Pinehurst City Council have confirmed that they are taking steps to bring back the Pinehurst Police Department.

“The county had canceled the contract with us, so we were stuck without a police department,” Jutlia said. “So we have been exploring the avenue of finding a chief again.”

Pinehurst Police Department served the city for many years, until the sudden medical retirement of longtime Chief Rocky Wilson in 2016, left the agency empty. Sheriff-elect Mike Gunderson then stepped in to fill the role for a short time after, but eventually relinquished the position to take his place as county sheriff in January 2017.

With no one at the helm of PPD and difficulties popping up in finding a replacement chief, it was decided that the city would enlist the help of the sheriff’s office by signing a contract with them in January 2017.

The City Council and Jutlia discussed candidates for the police chief position and funding for PPD in an executive session during the City Council meeting on Wednesday night.

Jutlia explained afterward that the city is looking at providing more money to PPD in order to appropriately compensate someone who fills the role as police chief.

“In terms of staffing, I believe it will be pretty much a wash,” Jutlia said of how PPD will effect the city’s financial position. “At least this year we should be right on track with where we were, and next year we will revisit where we are at with it.”

As for who will fill the role of chief, the city has essentially narrowed it down to one individual, but cannot reveal the person’s name until the hiring process has been completed.

Jutlia stressed that he and the council have been looking for someone with the correct qualifications, appropriate experience and an attitude that would mesh with the people in the city.

After a chief is hired, the goal is to also find a second officer to work with him or her — similar to how the Osburn Police Department is structured.

The resurrection of PPD and the search for a chief essentially began when Sheriff Mike Gunderson delivered a letter to Jutila and the City Council on Aug. 21 stating his office’s intent to end their partnership.

“Dear Mayor and Honorable City council members,” the letter read, “I am providing you with written notice on our intent of terminating law enforcement services with the City of Pinehurst pursuant to section 11 of Security Services and Joint Powers Agreement. Respectfully, Mike Gunderson — Sheriff, Shoshone County.”

Gunderson told the News-Press in a previous interview that the decision to end the contract was based on some city officials not being pleased with their work.

To see the story detailing the cancellation of the contract, visit www.shoshonenewspress.com and search “SCS cancels Pinehurst Law Enforcement contract.”