By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – The Port Angeles Police Department announced Friday the selection of their new Downtown Resource Officer (DRO).
A social media post says, after a lengthy process, Officer Zach Moore was selected to serve the community as the DRO, where he’ll establish working relationships with business owners, property owners and others who live and visit downtown Port Angeles.
Police Chief Brian Smith explained what the general vision is for re-establishing the DRO position.
“In terms of how to work operationally, the schedule will vary depending on the needs. That officer will be a uniformed officer with a marked vehicle, mostly working out of the downtown office. The goal is proactive police work, preventive activities and, you know, a visible presence in a really significant part of the city, the downtown core.”
Moore is a Port Angeles High School graduate and worked for the City in the Parks & Rec Department for several years. He joined PAPD in 2016 and has earned recognition as a relief supervisor and even earned a Meritorious Service Medal, PAPD’s second highest award for facing danger.
The City Council in January approved the City’s half of the salary funding for the new position. The other half of the Resource Officer’s payroll is coming from the downtown business owners themselves, including $25,000 chipped in by Clallam Transit.
Chamber of Commerce Director Marc Abshire says there was a will in the downtown community to make this happen.
“So, this really stems from the two-plus-year effort of elevate PA 2026, where we reached out to the community and to the business and property owners downtown to prioritize and build the strategic action plan that we’re following. And, it was probably the highest priority amongst the downtown businesses property owners to get a security presence in the downtown area to make people feel more safe and secure. There used to be an officer dedicated to the downtown, and Elevate PA is trying to bring that back once again.”
Specific scheduling details are still being worked out, but Moore is expected to begin his new assignment in May.
(PAPD photo)