Are we getting our money’s worth?

There has been a rise in crime in town: car prowls, burglaries and a robbery have occurred since the start of the pandemic. For heaven’s sake, the Town’s Department of Public Works has been robbed twice. It is worth noting the problems at the Port with the theft of expensive equipment from boat owners.

The Town contracts with the Skagit County Sheriff’s department to the tune of $330,000 a year. Gone are the days of community policing, with Sheriffs walking through town, meeting merchants, residents and visiting the schools. Last year things got so bad the Town contracted with a private securi...