Officer should be disciplined, not disowned
Readers of this paper will have seen the headline several weeks ago, “Fired officer used city computer for on-line dating.” The article and a subsequent one explain in greatly simplified terms why my son, Bradford Stavig, was terminated from the Anacortes Police Department.

Now, no one denies that using the department issued computer for personal use is against city policy, but I, my entire family (who have been a part of Anacortes since 1967) and all in the community who have contacted us are shocked and confused by the severity of the punishment meted out by our mayor and our new chief, Ms. Bowers.

To clarify a few factors, which have defamed Brad’s character and caused great embarrassment, several have asked “Uh, why is he going to dating sites, isn’t he married?" After an 18-year marriage Brad is in the 12th month of a protracted divorce. He has no ready access to his home computer.

The sites he accessed were the type, which try to match you with people with compatible interests. The “pop-ups,” which tend to accompany these sites, are often apparently “adult” in nature. Brad did evidently click on to one of these but did not pay money to enter it. He did not watch “porn” or “X-rated” material.

If I sound like a proud and upset father, I am. Brad has been a positive member of this community for his entire life. He brought down the house in a local production of “A Christmas Carol” while playing Jacob Marley’s ghost at age 15. Brad was a class president at Anacortes High School where he was in band, school musicals and on the golf team.

He represented Anacortes as a lead member of the Vela Luka Croation Dance Troupe for over 20 years, performing in Europe and the 100-year re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York. He is a regular community blood donor and people hire him to sing at their weddings. He is, in short, a loved, respected and committed member of our city.

After majoring in communications at Eastern Washington University, Brad returned to Anacortes and was hired as a police dispatcher. While serving in that capacity, he was elected vice president of the Police Guild and filled that position and, off and on, acted as president for nine years. After ongoing prodding by many officers, Brad proudly joined the Anacortes Police Department.

Brad has, with great satisfaction, served our city for 16 years and his file is filled with positive annual evaluations and commendations from his superiors. Until this current situation, there was only one reprimand, and that was for donating a retired uniform shirt for display at a popular local establishment. He has never been reprimanded or disciplined for any “lack of judgment” or misconduct while on duty as an officer.

As a city taxpayer, I have another issue: how my tax money is spent. The city has easily spent upwards of $100,000 training each officer. Start with 18 weeks of police academy at full pay, followed by many, many classes and workshops in domestic violence, marine training, crisis intervention, firearms training, crime scene investigation and more. Add to this the costs of searching for a replacement officer, and if this matter goes to arbitration, tens of thousands of dollars for legal fees.

I would think that the Police Department would consider Brad an invaluable resource. He knows every nook and cranny in this town as well as who the bad or disturbed people are. In addition, he knows so many people in town and remembers who they are, that is beyond belief. This has to be a great asset when it comes to the all-too-common domestic violence situations. Brad is trusted and known and well-liked — a big plus for a local cop.

I ask the people of this community who know and respect Brad to write, e-mail, or phone Mayor Maxwell and/or Chief Bowers asking them to reconsider their original decision.

Speaking as a father who knows how much Brad loves Anacortes and loves his job serving as an officer, I say discipline the man, he deserves it, but don’t disown him. He is one of ours.
Charles I. Stavig
Anacortes

Chamber not responsible for inaccurate tagline
Mike Stolmeier, the owner of Smuggler’s Cove over in Eastsound, wrote an impassioned letter that appeared in this paper last week, taking the Chamber of Commerce to task over its “Forget the Ferry” tagline. In his letter, Mr. Stolmeier lectured on the importance of the San Juans-Anacortes relationship and advised “that the Chamber immediately and permanently scuttle any marketing or PR that even hints at ‘Forgetting the Ferry.’”

Good advice — except that Mr. Stolmeier’s letter was dead wrong and, according to him, should never have been printed.

In fact, the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce fully supports the ferry system and our San Juan neighbors. We oversee 2 percent hotel/motel funding that markets the ferry. I have served on the Ferry Advisory Committee since 2006. We had nothing to do with this phrase, which emerged from an article that appeared in the August issue of Sunset Magazine. The line was composed by a third party used by Sunset to write the article, over which we had no control, and in no way reflects our view.

This phrase also appeared in our newsletter, referencing the title of the Sunset article. We went on to compliment the article because it furthers Anacortes as a destination, a consistent focus of our marketing for the past two years. This is not mutually exclusive to the ferries — many tourists come to Anacortes, enjoy our town and then travel to the San Juans. Bottom line: This is a valuable commercial lifeline — to think that we would endanger visitor spending via an anti-ferry marketing campaign makes no sense.

Mr. Stolmeier indicated to me in writing last week that his e-mail was in error, stating “I do apologize for the bluntness and any anxiety associated with my letter.”

After the letter appeared in the American, he told me it had been printed in error. Hopefully, this letter will appear in tandem with his retraction.
Mitch Everton,
Executive Director
Anacortes Chamber of Commerce

Editor’s note: Mike Stolmeier did not return a phone call last week asking for clarification about the printing of his letter. The American confirmed the letter with him via e-mail, which he acknowledged, well before publication.

Rep. Larsen needs to reassess ways to boost oil supply
Congressman Rick Larsen’s radio ad on energy implies he’s doing a lot to bring down prices, but the ad is misleading at best.

Much of it refers to things that have already been done, such as the increased mileage standards that were passed last year. Likewise the emphasis on alternative sources, as if we have not already been working to develop them. Technology breakthroughs don’t come on a schedule, no matter how hard we try or how many dollars we spend.

Larsen’s proposes to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The 1973 oil embargo shows this is a bad idea.

Unpleasant as high prices are, they don’t compare to a serious interruption in supply, such as could result from Iran blocking the straits of Hormuz through which many oil tankers must pass. The Russian attack on Georgia, an oil supplier, emphasizes how our dependence on foreign oil makes us captive to instability around the globe. This reserve is our insurance policy.

Furthermore, draining this limited reserve is no substitute for additional domestic production. Larsen’s Web site says he opposes new exploration and drilling, even in the outer continental shelf. He says oil companies should drill on existing leases, failing to acknowledge that many of these areas have been explored and lack significant oil and that companies that try to drill are often blocked by lawsuits and red tape.

There is no quick fix. For two decades we have focused exclusively on conservation and green power while ignoring those things that could significantly boost energy supplies in the present. Meanwhile, demand in the developing world exploded.

Larsen’s desire to raise taxes on oil companies and investigate traders for collusion cannot alter market fundamentals. Increasing supply is the only answer and it requires both near-term and long-term strategies.

Long term, alternative technologies hold the answer. Until those become available at reasonable prices, we need more domestic oil production and we need nuclear power. Larsen opposes both.

The truth is that he is willing to see us continue to pay high prices, possibly for decades, while we await these new technologies. He just lacks the guts to say so.
Mark Lijek
Anacortes

Anacortes lucky to have such caring EMTs
On Aug. 13 I had to call 911 and request an aid car for my wife. Needless to say I was terrified.

The two firefighters who arrived were incredible. They were extremely professional and not only assisted my wife but were constantly assuring me that she was going to be fine. They stabilized her and transported to the ER, which is where their job could have ended.

Instead, because of a serious emergency the staff of the ER could not immediately tend to my wife, they stayed with us and were of tremendous assistance to both of us. I do not remember the names of the firefighters but would like to thank them and go on record as stating that the city of Anacortes is extremely lucky to not only have very professional firefighters but extremely caring and concerned firefighters. Thank you very much.
Stephen Skelton
Anacortes

Many helped library serve 400 children
The Skagit Libraries’ annual summer reading program ended recently, and in Anacortes approximately 400 children from toddlers through high school participated, including students in the YMCA summer classes and at the Boys & Girls Club.

We’d like to thank everyone who contributed this year. The Friends of the Anacortes Public Library provided the funds for entertainers, the halfway prizes and the teens’ final prize books; San Juan Lanes gave a game of bowling to each finisher as always; and the Everett AquaSox baseball team awarded two tickets per finisher.

The Anacortes Noon Kiwanis Club, Soroptimist International of Anacortes, Soroptimist International of Fidalgo Island and other service clubs and businesses throughout Skagit County made generous monetary donations to provide the final prize books and pay for the performances by Last Leaf Productions at three libraries.

In addition, the following Anacortes businesses donated special prizes: Boxes & Bears, Fidalgo Drive-In, Fidalgo Pool & Fitness Center, Pizza Factory, and 7-Eleven. Prizes were also donated by Bears ’N Friends in La Conner, and from Skagit Speedway and Common Grounds Coffee House in Burlington.

We also especially appreciate our wonderful summer reading helpers, Tabitha Blake, Alice Darnton and Ashli Anderson. Thank you to all of you.
Rae Kozloff and Ria Kilburn
Anacortes Public Library

Concerts at port were summer fun for whole family
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Port of Anacortes for the fun concerts at the Cap Sante marina this summer. What a fun way to bring the community together to enjoy a variety of talented artists and marvel at the beautiful area in which we live.

Not only were these concerts free, they were suitable for the whole family. The Kim Archer Band had folks of all ages dancing in the parking lot, on the sidewalks and on the docks. Hopefully the port will continue these concerts next year. We are already looking forward to them.
Joan and Art Fossum
Anacortes