Firing officer was reckless reaction to bad judgment
Police officers are fired for many reasons, and when they are it usually makes national headlines.

Why are the firings so newsworthy? Because they usually involve crooked cops who are using their firearm recklessly, or they’ve stolen drug money, or they’re in possession of narcotics seized from a crime scene, or they’ve been busted for demanding sex in lieu of issuing traffic violations.

Yet Anacortes Police Officer Brad Stavig has been fired for using his APD-issued computer to visit dating sites. This will not make national news.

It’s been reported that in the course of his off-duty computer use that he managed to land on a porn site or two. Regardless of the fact that he did not have permission to use his computer for personal use, who hasn’t landed on a porn site or two? All you have to do is Google “honeydew melons” or “headlights” and you can be directed straight to a porn site.

Officer Stavig is quite likely the only Anacortes police officer who was actually raised in Anacortes, and who has a deep connection with the local community.

As his brother, I can state quite clearly that he is a man of integrity, honesty, sincerity and forthrightness, and it pains me to see the Anacortes Police Department react so recklessly to his bout of bad judgment.

As Officer Stavig has stated, he has been told that his behavior is not acceptable for a police officer, and he has made a commitment to adhere to the standards imposed by the Anacortes Police Department.

For most police departments in America, Officer Stavig’s indiscretions would have warranted a warning or a possible temporary suspension, but the termination of a straight-up officer, who has spent 17 years working to protect his fellow residents, is simply ludicrous.
Brent Stavig
Anacortes

Paper not telling whole story on Morand property
I am “the neighbor” mentioned in your July 23, 2008 article regarding the Morands’ property.

Indeed, we have lost a substantial portion, approximately 2,000 square feet, of our property, which has fallen into the hole created by Mr. Morand. We purchased our dream home in July 2007, at which time there was a beautiful, sandy beach and our property intact. Sadly, today neither is true.

On two occasions in the past two months, June 25 and July 23, the Anacortes American in “reporting” on the predicament which the Morands have gotten themselves into has uncritically listed expenses allegedly incurred by them in connection with their property on Anaco Beach Road. Both articles come up with a total of $540,000 spent on a storm wall, failed water filtration system and engineering.

Even a casual observer can see that the $140,000 spent on engineering was wasted. Mr. Morand has been quoted as saying “I don’t have the money,” “I am in a dire predicament,” “No bank’s going to loan money on the property.”

I have done some research using the Skagit County Assessor’s records, which show the appraised value of the property is $722,100. Also, it is apparent from county records that the Morands have borrowed a total of $1,615,000 from The Bank of The Pacific, using the property as collateral, since they purchased it four years ago.

If one were to deduct the purchase price of $520,000 and the purported amount spent of the storm wall, water filtration system and engineering of $540,000, then where did the remaining $555,000 go? Where is the money and why was it not used toward a “permanent solution”?

One final question should be asked: Why does Mr. Morand believe that his property has increased in value to $1,595,000 (currently listed) from the purchase price of $520,000 in only four years?
Janis Sonnenberg
Anacortes

Grant pays for patrols that make our forests safer
Kudos to the Anacortes Police Department and the Anacortes Community Forest Lands team. As a result of the initiative of the Anacortes Parks & Recreation Department, state grant money was obtained to fund law enforcement patrols in our city Forest Lands.

An example of the results of this effort are reported in the July ACFL Maintenance Report: “A good number of citations have been issued at Whistle Lake for alcohol violations this month, thanks to the many officers who have signed up to patrol the ACFL on our Law Enforcement Grant.”

Visitors to the ACFL still occasionally suffer vehicle break-ins. It’s probably only one or two miscreants who are responsible for these acts.

Let’s hope the continued proactive police presence near the trailhead parking areas will soon lead to their arrest.
Rick Machin
Anacortes

Festival grateful for sponsors and volunteers
The 47th annual Anacortes Arts Festival was a great success.

We’d like to thank the 200-plus volunteers who worked in excess of 1,400 hours leading up to and during the festival, local sponsors who contributed nearly 25 percent of the festival budget, youth area partners who provided activities to serve thousands of children and local artisans who enriched and entertained.

We also want to acknowledge the city of Anacortes, the Port of Anacortes, and downtown business community, who share space and help us serve the estimated 90,000 festival visitors.

All of these partners (along with the community) help place the Anacortes Arts Festival among the top in its industry and showcase Anacortes as a vibrant and welcoming community.

And because the festival returns profits to the community through $30,000 in annual arts grants, and $10,000 in matching public arts funds, its impact extends well beyond three days in August.

Thanks Anacortes for all your help.
Rita James
For the Anacortes Arts Festival Staff and Board of Directors