Why does chief want to go?

Regarding Port Townsend Police Chief Thomas Olson applying for a similar role in Prineville, Oregon after only two and a half years as chief here in PT: There’s an odd smell to comments by both Olson and City Manager John Mauro, each of whom essentially declared “no comment” regarding Olson’s possible exit.

This obviously invites speculation. So I’ll speculate: Olson has not been on the job long enough to make much of a difference. Is he leaving because of substandard pay in Port Townsend, family issues, the social environment, the rain?

City Manager Mauro might not want to disclose personnel issues, but why be unwilling to address that he has presided over the third police chief vacancy in four and a half years? Surely this level of upheaval is not good for the police department nor citizens of Port Townsend. Is there an underlying cause? Pay? Micromanagement? Poor communication? Lack of community support?

Despite Mauro’s suggestion that the story is premature, something is “off.” The police department and city hall are public agencies. The public has a right to know. Hiding a problem behind the stove does not sanitize the kitchen.

Reporter James Robinson and The Leader are to be commended for bringing this to the community’s attention.

Erik Dolson

Port Townsend and Sisters, Oregon.

Responsible journalism

One of the many things I enjoy about Port Townsend is reading the weekly Leader. Our small-town newspaper is a refreshing break from the national and international news that can leave one depressed, upset, and hopeless about the state of the world. I look forward to hearing about our local issues and concerns. I like to read about the people who, despite our differences, make the community work.

I was surprised, confused, and upset about an advertisement on page 10 of the June 5 edition titled, “To the people of Port Townsend.” I read the rambling piece and had difficulty understanding who and what this person was talking about. By the time I got to the end of the piece, I didn’t care about the drama.

I did care and was upset that the Leader would take up a lot of space and refer to it as a “paid advertisement.” Advertising what? Some person is upset? Doesn’t that belong in the Letters to the Editor section? So now if the “handful of people” that the piece refers to want to respond with a full-page “paid advertisement” they can do so?

Leave this stuff to the social media forums.

This piece had the feel of a tabloid or yellow journalism where scandalous and exaggerated stories are printed for people’s entertainment. I ask that the staff at the Leader take a hard look at this and ask, “Is this who we are?” I hope not. We are better than this.

Ed Thompson

Port Townsend

Fix potholes, now

Sunday, June 9, was a beautiful, gorgeous day. I decided to go on a bike ride, something I had not been able to do for several weeks. Instead of a pleasant ride thru downtown and surrounding areas, I spent my time dodging potholes, some so big I could have been lost in them! Shadows made seeing the potholes and trying to avoid them even more dangerous. I know locals claim the potholes are used as a means to keep drivers under 30 mph to protect the deer. The mayor