A contract between La Center and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) opened the path for full police services to return in La Center after over a year of absence. The deal marked a significant milestone for La Center. The town had been without a dedicated police department since early 2020 after the city could no longer afford the cost.
La Center’s pursuit of stable police services began with negotiations with the Cowlitz Indian Tribal Public Safety Department. By January 2024, these discussions hit an impasse, largely due to disagreements over liability issues. Ultimately, neither party reached a mutual agreement on indemnification, leading to the cessation of negotiations.
La Center then turned to the CCSO to fill the gap. In February 2024, a temporary agreement was signed, allowing two CCSO deputies to patrol La Center while the city worked toward a long-term contract. CCSO Commander Phil Sample, who took over leadership of law enforcement operations, played a key role in guiding La Center’s patrol officers during this transitional phase. Sample, who noted the town’s welcoming attitude toward CCSO, remains in command of police services.
“The community has embraced us in a way that, you know, we feel welcomed,” Sample said half a year into his appointment in La Center. “They also know that we are professionals — we have a job to do and they understand and they like that about us, and they come to us with [their] concerns.”
In July, La Center Mayor Tom Strobehn announced the two parties would soon reach an agreement. Then, he confirmed this agreement would be a five-year contract, slated for renewal in 2029, onward.
In a Sept. 25 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a final interlocal agreement with CCSO. This contract retained Sample in leadership and two patrol officers, with the addition of two more patrol deputies and a support specialist.
The agreement will cost La Center $5,332,506.99 over five years, including an upfront payment of $660,663.88 for 2024 services. Under the agreement, CCSO will add the additional patrol deputies and support specialist for administrative services by February 2025.
The Clark County Council approved the agreement in its Oct. 15 meeting, finalizing over a year of searching for police services.
“I am excited and happy that we’ve got to a point where we can actually have police services back in the city of La Center. This will allow the residents to rest easier at night knowing that there are officers patrolling our streets,” Strobehn said following the County Council’s approval.
The agreement covers access to CCSO detectives and other specialized services, including K9 units, SWAT and bomb disposal teams, which would normally incur additional fees.
During an Oct. 16 forum in the Ridgefield precinct, Sheriff John Horch emphasized the significance of the contract.
“That’s the first time we’ve had a contract like that at the sheriff’s office, and it’s a great opportunity. We hire more people that way… La Center wanted it and that gives them great police services,” Horch said.