Granola bars, jerky sticks and cookies. It’s the stuff that makes social media scream.

Or so it turned out last week.

Jefferson County commissioners found themselves at the center of much online outrage after the county turned away thank-you bags that were going to be given to local law enforcement officers.

Community members had put together “grab-and-go bags” to be given to sheriff deputies, as well as Port Townsend police and the Washington State Patrol, for Thank a Police Officer Day on Sept. 19.

But when the gift bags were going to be presented to deputies in the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Joe Nole said the presents couldn’t be accepted because it would conflict with ethics rules and the advice of the county prosecutor’s office.

The gift bag brouhaha reached a crescendo early last week, during the public comment portion of the county commissioners meeting.

Rebekah Logue of Jefferson County, in a letter read aloud during the virtual session, referenced a complaint lodged with the county over the gift bags. She castigated commissioners for not allowing the bags of snacks and treats to be given to law enforcement officers.

Logue said she joined with others to put together the gift bags for Thank a Police Officer Day.

“The sole purpose and mission of these simple snack bags was to recognize the value of these officers, what they do, and what they stand for,” she wrote. “I would appreciate an explanation as to why a bag of jerky, cookies, a granola bar, chocolates, gum, trail mix, and a bag of microwave popcorn raised such concern in a community member or the commissioners.”

BACKING THE BLUE

In her letter, Logue recounted FBI statistics that said 55,000 peace officers were injured last year and 89 were killed.

“Every day we are seeing acts of violence toward law enforcement. It’s these men and women who respond to drug overdoses, domestic violence, or maybe someone’s older mother or father needing to be checked on,” Logue continued.

“As elected officials, shame on you,” Logue wrote, adding that commissioners had interfered with the community’s right to show its gratitude.

“In my 31 years of living here I have never had my cookies or cards turned away from the sheriff’s office. Why now?” she asked.

Commissioner Kate Dean said the email appeared directed at her.

Dean said she had gotten an email that the gift bags were going out, and noted their were rules about public officials and employees accepting gifts.

Dean said she forwarded the message to the people it should have gone to; the sheriff and the prosecuting attorney.

“That was the extent of my involvement with it,” Dean said.

SHERIFF MAKES THE CALL

Dean then shared the sheriff’s written response to Logue.

In it, Nole said he had reviewed the policies of the sheriff’s office, as well as county policy and state law, and discussed the matter with the prosecutor’s office.

“In the end, I was the one that made the decision to request that the gift bags not be delivered,” Nole wrote.

“It was a very tough decision for me to make, but in my opinion, accepting the gift bags violates ethics policy and state law. 

“I am in total agreement with you that the deputies do excellent work and selflessly put themselves in harm’s way every day to enforce the law and protect the public. I am very proud to work with them and have them call me ‘Sheriff.’ They deserve all the gratitude and recognition they can get,” Nole added.

“I know my decision regarding the gift bags is not a popular one, and I apologize for that. But I have a responsibility to the deputies and the citizens of Jefferson County to lead the department in an ethical, responsible and professional manner,” the sheriff said in his response.

“It’s unfortunate. I think we all want to live in a world where we can freely give appreciation,” Dean added after she finished reading the sheriff’s response.

Dean said she understood where Logue was coming from, at a personal level.

“It’s an issue near and dear to my heart,” Dean said, adding that she had sent a gift card for a meal to the deputies after they had responded to a recent suicide call that involved a local teen.

“My desire to thank them was also turned back,” Dean said.

That said, ethical behavior is an important issue, as well, she said.

SOCIAL MEDIA OUTRAGE

The gift-bag friction follows a summer of discontent that’s been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dean noted “the world of screaming social media” that people now live in, and the rush to judgement that environment fosters. The quality of people’s interactions continues to degrade, she said, with people quick to assume bad intent on the part of others.

“I feel that is really to blame; where we are quick to jump to name-calling and assuming the worst of each other in this kind of two-sided America that exists right now. 

“It’s made even more difficult in the time of a pandemic,” she said.

In the past, Dean recalled, someone could just call a county commissioner and have coffee and a conversation if there were concerns or questions.

No more. Now it’s venting on social media, first and foremost, with threats, outrage and accusations.

Dean said the nastiness seems to be getting worse and worse, and added she didn’t think it could have gone even lower after the 2016 Election.

“We’re all suffering. And our community is going to suffer most of all,” Dean said.

NO FUSS IN PT

Gift bags were also given to officers at the Port Townsend Police Department.

Interim Port Townsend Police Chief Troy Surber said  the bags were distributed to officers without complaint. 

City officials determined the value of the bags did not pose a problem.

Leader reporter Nick Twietmeyer contributed to this story.