Law enforcement took center stage at Monday night’s Gig Harbor City Council meeting.

Gig Harbor welcomed its newest police officer, Darius Aldridge, with a swearing-in ceremony that included the oath of office administered by Mayor Chuck Hunter and Aldridge’s wife, Regina, pinning the badge on her husband’s uniform.

Just before the ceremony, Police Chief Mike Davis spoke highly of Aldridge, who grew up in Alaska and came to Washington state to accommodate his wife’s career. A Gig Harbor resident for the past five years, Aldridge’s most recent job was with the Federal Way Police Department.

The lateral move will cut about two hours off Aldridge’s commute time, Davis said during his remarks.

Aldridge described Gig Harbor as his home and said he was glad to be part of the department.

“This is going way too smoothly,” Davis joked after Aldridge’s badge was pinned. “No blood?”

In addition, fellow Gig Harbor police officer Lt. Bill Colberg was honored for his 30 years of service to the city.

Colberg served four years in the U.S. Air Force, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, before he started his law-enforcement career in Glendale, Calif.

He decided he wanted to raise his family in the Pacific Northwest, so Colberg came to Gig Harbor and officially started his career in the Maritime City on Dec. 7, 1981.

Davis had high praise for the veteran officer.

“He does an unbelievable job as my No. 2 guy,” Davis said, noting that, on two occasions, Colberg has served as acting chief. “Lt. Colberg is truly a force within our department.”

Davis cited Colberg’s ability to keep the department operating under budget and his interpersonal skills — the latter remark drawing good-natured laughter from the audience.

Davis conceded Colberg isn’t always outwardly happy-go-lucky, but he added, “Down deep inside that man, he’s always smiling.”

Colberg received a standing ovation and a plaque which marked his three decades of service.
Davis also gave kudos to Colberg’s wife, Faith, who enthusiastically received them.

“That’s right!,” she exclaimed, again to uproarious laughter from the crowd.

Davis also presented a year-end update for 2011.

A summary of the report:

* Year-end calls showed a decrease of 417 compared to 2010.

* DUI arrests increased by 18 over 2010.

* Traffic infractions went up 163 compared to 2010, with criminal traffic citations also up by 78 over 2010. Most criminal traffic citations were for driving with a suspended license.

* There were 16 more traffic accidents in 2011 than in 2010, including eight roundabout accidents in the fourth quarter that included no injuries.

* Misdemeanor arrests were up by 75 from 2010, while felony arrests were down by 13 compared to the same period a year ago.

Davis described the statistics as showing property crimes up 15 percent, with crimes against people down by 10 percent.

“But we still feel there is much more we can do with property crimes,” he said.

Thefts from vehicles remain a problem in Gig Harbor. On that front, however, there was some good news.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen that pattern of thefts from vehicles,” he said, referencing a video surveillance operation at the Maritime Chevron gas station on Stinson Avenue that broke a rash of thefts from automobiles in the area.

Davis ended his presentation by thanking the city council for its support of the police department.

In other news, the city council passed a motion to accept the appointment to committee memberships.

On the Fire and Safety Committee are council members Jill Guernsey, Ken Malich and Derek Young. The Operations and Public Projects Committee members are council members Steve Ekberg, Tim Payne and Michael Perrow. Planning and Building Commission members are council members Guernsey, Paul Kadzik and Young.

On the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee are council members Malich, Payne and Perrow. Board/Commission Candidate Review Committee members include council members Ekberg, Kadzik and Guernsey.

Ekberg was appointed mayor pro tem, and Young was appointed as the council’s representative on the Pierce County Regional Council and Public Transportation Improvement Conference.

* The city council had a first reading of an ordinance pertaining to the Shorecrest Community Septic System that would remove the 50 percent surcharge on sewer service customers outside of Gig Harbor. It also would establishing a sewer general facilities charge of $13,300 per equivalent residential unit for connection to the SCSS and set up a dedicated Shorecrest sewer reserve fund.

* Port of Tacoma Commissioner Clare Petrich updated the city council on the port.

“It’s the port, as I see it, that connects us with the world,” she said, noting some 70 percent of goods that come through are headed to other areas in America beyond the West Coast.

With new ports already opened in Canada and a planned major port opening in Mexico, as well as the widening of the Panama Canal — scheduled for completion in 2014 — shippers won’t have to use America’s West Coast’s ports, Petrich said.

“We know what we have to be at the top of our game,” Petrich said, noting the Port of Tacoma is engaged in some major strategic planning that includes diversification.

“One hundred thousand jobs are related to the port,” she said. “Your maritime focus is important to all of us.”

* The Gig Harbor Maritime Playground Committee was presented with a $60,000 check by Shane’s Inspiration for a replacement playground at Crescent Creek Park. Shane’s Inspiration is a California-based company that designs playgrounds for children who have disabilities and typically-able children as well.

The money includes $50,000 in design services and $10,000 in donated playground equipment from Landscape Structures, a manufacturer of playground equipment.

* The City Council passed a resolution declaring February 2012 Random Acts of Kindness Month.

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