When you think of the wild west, you might imagine a sheriff, keeping watch over a small, dusty town he calls home. And a posse of locals: ready to be called up to fight off cattle rustlers or moonshine smugglers who threaten to cause trouble.

It’s hard to imagine something like that now, in 2024 Washington State.

But, in Klickitat County, down south on the Columbia River, a sheriff's posse has been making the news for its growing size and the number of responsibilities it’s taking on within the community.

Advocates say the posse is filling shortfalls within the Sheriff’s budget. 

Critics say it’s empowering citizens to take the law into their own hands – and allowing the sheriff to choose which laws he’ll enforce and which ones he’ll ignore.

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Guest:

• Paul Kiefer, a freelance reporter who covered this story for Investigate West

Related Links:

• In a rural stretch of Washington, a ‘constitutional sheriff’ and his growing volunteer posse provoke controversy - Investigate West

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