Previously in this column, county employees have been recognized for their achievements and public service. We continue this tradition with two more examples of county employees receiving honors for their tireless efforts to improve their communities.
Win Granlund, Kitsap County, Wash. commissioner, is the 1996 recipient of the Bridge Builder Award. The award is sponsored by the members of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. Recipients of the award are those who work to eliminate differences between people, such as economic, ethnicity, race and religion.
Granlund received the award for his many years of community work. His years of community service truly embodies the words "concept by action as well as words."
Commissioner Granlund has 40 years in public service with eight years as a county commissioner, two years in the state legislature and 33 1/2 years as a school teacher administrator. His community work includes South Colby Methodist Church, Kitsap Mental Health Services and the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee. His work with the youth group included serving on a committee to decide how to best serve troubled youth.
Also in Washington state, the Washington Correctional Association (WCA) recently honored The Gang Solutions Task Force, led by Clark County, with the Law Enforcement Award for its work in understanding and curbing gang activity. The task force was co-chaired by Clark County Undersheriff Jane Johnson.
The task force is a collaborative effort involving social and educational services, local schools, private citizens and law enforcement. The goals of the coalition effort are to foster communication, coordinate intervention and share resources within the community to address gang issues. The task force held workshops, town meetings and talked to children in schools to help reach those goals.
In a pilot program, one officer was placed in a school district to help the schools identify gang issues and curtail violence. Additionally, mediation and arbitration skills were taught to students.
The task force members include the county sheriff's and prosecutor's office, the Juvenile Department and Corrections Department, Vancouver Police Department of Corrections, Educational Service District 112, as well as business and citizen representatives.
(Membership News was written by Susan Parrish,
membership coordinator.)