Sheriff names top officers, sets goals

All staffing changes were effective as of Jan. 1.

“I considered employee morale, a more cost effective way to manage the sheriff’s office, ways to increase employee staffing on the road and in the jail, labor relationships, plus other factors in making my decision on top-level management changes,” Songer wrote in the release.

Among the most notable changes to the management of the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office was the ejection of now-former Undersheriff Boardman.

Songer has eliminated the undersheriff position entirely to pay for overtime in order to put more deputies on the road, according to the release.

Additionally, Deputy Pat Kaley will no longer be chief criminal deputy as he has been replaced by Detective Mike Kallio.

Eileen Porter has also been replaced as chief civil deputy by Deputy Robert Bianchi, who will be in charge of the Klickitat County Jail and civil unit.

Songer also added an administrative assistant position, which will be filled by Angel Hill, who will be responsible for assisting the sheriff in budget management, payroll, and other administrative duties, according to the release.

Additionally, Songer listed a few goals he wants to accomplish during the first 100 days in office, including re-establishing a range/timber deputy program, creating a citizen advisory committee to assist the sheriff with budgetary matters, and launching a “sheriff’s posse” that would be involved with rural crime prevention activities, including an aviation program that Songer said will come at “no cost to the citizens of Klickitat County.”

“The top priority of my administration will be a commitment to the citizens we serve and to the department employees who deliver the services the citizens demand,” Songer wrote.