Whidbey News-Times, May 02, 2012

Page 1

News-Times Whidbey

Holland Happening filled weekend with smiles. A13.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012 | Vol. 113, No. 35 | www.whidbeynewstimes.com | 75¢

Candidate fails to meet all campaign rules But he won’t ask for money By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter

Jessie Stensland / Whidbey News-Times

Oak Harbor Police Officer Dennis Dickinson tries out a state-owned driving simulator that’s supposed to help officers become better drivers.

Cops speed, crash in virtual chases By JESSIE STENSLAND Staff reporter

The simulator training came without cost because officers went through training while on duty and no real cars were involved. Dyer said the simulator training is a supplement to the regular EVOC training. Oak Harbor Police Officer Dennis Dickinson was one of the trainers who led other officers through simulations. The “car” is designed to be as similar to a real cop car as possible, with video screens instead of a windshield and side windows. The dashboard display can even change to mimic any number of cars, including Crown Vics. Dickinson said the officers are supposed to follow their departments’ policy regarding police chases. As a trainer, he can jump into the scenario as another police car, a bad guy or See cops, A4

Phil Collier But it didn’t turn out that way because of a miscommunication. Skinner said he assumed that Collier’s treasurer, his wife Kathy Collier, would be submitting the reports, which is the usual practice. But the Colliers thought Skinner was doing it, so it didn’t get done until last Thursday. “From my conversation with a representative from the Public Disclosure Commission, they will be satisfied with our explanation of what happened and even though the filing is late, they don’t believe it was anything actionable,” Skinner said. “So See Collier, A4

FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS

Est 1991

830 SE Pioneer Way Oak Harbor, WA 360-679-3700 Tues-Fri 11-5:30 Saturday 10-5

YOUR LOCAL GOLD BUYER

We Buy Gold, Silver, Coins, Diamonds, & Estate Jewelry

FREE $20 Gas Card FREE $100 minimum with our purchase of your jewelry.

FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS FREE GAS

FREE GAS FREE GAS

FREE GAS FREE GAS

Cops from all over Whidbey Island and one newspaper reporter got the chance to chase bad guys, speed through city streets and even crash police cars last month. The state loaned a high-tech driving simulator to law enforcement officials in Island County. The simulator, which is similar to a giant video game inside a trailer, is meant to help train officers handle a variety of high-stress or dangerous situations. “The Washington State Patrol reports that they have experienced a 20 percent reduction in collisions since implementing a driving training program that utilizes a driving simulator as part of the training program,” reported Sgt. Rick Norrie, a traffic enforcement expert at the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

Lt. John Dyer with the Oak Harbor Police Department stressed that the training session was a cooperative effort of law enforcement agencies on the island, including the sheriff’s office, the Oak Harbor police, the Coupeville Marshal’s Office and the Langley police. Dyer said he hopes to organize more such cooperative efforts among police agencies on the island because of budget pressures facing everyone. “We’re looking at anything we can do to reduce the costs to all of us but still get the training we need,” he said. Among the training sessions that police officers regularly have to complete are emergency vehicle operation courses, which officers refer to as EVOC. Dyer said it can be expensive for departments to put on the courses because of overtime and the wear and tear on cars.

First-time candidate Phil Collier has had some problems complying with the rules that govern political campaigns, though he describes them as small, nitpicky items that have nothing to do with the real issues. Collier, an Oak Harbor businessman, is running as an independent candidate for the Island County commissioner seat currently held by Democratic Commissioner Angie Homola. City Councilman Jim Campbell and Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Director Jill Johnson are also running in the crowded race as Republicans. Collier started his campaign aggressively, with big ads in a local shopper and campaign signs dotting the landscape before any of the other candidates. But while all the other candidates submitted details about contributions and expenses to the state Public Disclosure Commission, information submitted by Collier was noticeably absent. Collier said he hired his longtime attorney, Christon Skinner of Oak Harbor, to advise him on the campaign. “I was my first time running for office and I wanted to make sure I got everything just perfect,” he said.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.