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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 4, 2017)
16 Wednesday, October 4, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon DCSO adding patrol deputies By Craig Rullman Correspondent After a tumultuous couple of years that saw several high- ranking officials terminated, a captain sent to prison, and deputy and former sheriff can- didate Eric Kozowski placed on administrative leave last week for alleged policy vio- lations, The Nugget recently spoke with Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sergeant William Bailey about the current state of the sheriff’s office. In reference to the widely reported spate of personnel issues that plagued the depart- ment, Sgt. Bailey said, “We are forward-looking. There is much to do and we don’t have time to be looking back. We are committed to the future.” Sgt. Bailey shared Sheriff Shane Nelson’s pleasure in the addition of three lateral hires: one new deputy from an agency in California, and two others from a department in Oregon, bringing the total number of patrol deputies to 41. Sergeant Bailey told The Nugget that by November the Sheriff will reclassify three field technician positions to deputies, bringing the total number of patrol deputies to 44, not including detectives or forest patrol positions. “The important part for Sisters,” Sgt. Bailey said, “is that there is always one dep- uty assigned to the Sisters area providing 24-hour coverage.” The sheriff is also hiring two computer forensic spe- cialists to assist deputies and detectives in the increasingly complex criminal investiga- tions of the digital and com- puter age. SISTERS DENTURE Smile in Comfort Dentures starting at $850 Free consultations! 541-549-0929 — 36 years experience — LOCALLY OWNED Sheriff Nelson has also hired a total of 10 new correc- tions deputies. Lateral transfers — depu- ties with prior law enforce- ment experience elsewhere — will attend a 14-week field- training program with field training officers before hit- ting the streets of Deschutes County on their own. Sgt. Bailey noted that Sheriff ’s deputies remain busy. In the month of August DCSO responded to 3,654 calls for service, 138 vehicle collisions, and made 1,246 vehicle stops — only 16 per- cent of which resulted in a citation. In addition, deputies made nearly 3,000 self-initi- ated stops or investigations, responded to 91 domestic incidents, and made 624 book- ings at Deschutes County Jail. The important part for Sisters is that there is always one deputy assigned to the Sisters area providing 24-hour coverage. — Sgt. William Bailey In the face of a nation- wide opioid epidemic, a prob- lem also effecting Deschutes County, Sheriff Nelson told The Nugget last year that DCSO deputies would begin carrying Narcan — also known as Naloxone — in every patrol vehicle. Narcan blocks the effects of opioids and reverses overdoses and is used by law enforcement agencies across the country. “We have used it,” Sgt. Bailey said. “We (DCSO deputies) are usually the first on scene, and it undoubtedly saves lives.” In the wake of yet another large-scale methamphetamine trafficking bust in Madras last week — conducted by combined federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, and the HIDTA-supported Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team — Sgt. Bailey noted that methamphetamine and heroin remain the most pressing con- cerns to deputies and narcot- ics detectives. He said that synthetic drugs such as Fentanyl — an easily abused pain-killer — are presenting new and alarm- ing challenges to deputies on the street, and in some cases outpacing the ability of depu- ties to identify the newest drugs with field-testing kits. Sgt. Bailey said that while there are still occasional incidents of meth traffickers found to be cooking on their own, most methamphetamine in Central Oregon is of for- eign origin. A sheriff’s office is far more than good busts and statistics. Sgt. Bailey told The Nugget that deputies conducted a very successful “Back to School” event for La Pine-area schoolchildren, and deputies are now looking for- ward to coordinating a similar event to be held in Sisters. “It’s an opportunity to wel- come the kids back, let them crawl around the cars, to meet their deputies, and to have a little fun,” Sgt. Bailey said. Additional information on DCSO activities in the county can be found on their website, or on Facebook. Agents arrest 12 in drug raids in Central Oregon BEND (AP) — The FBI says agents conducted a series of drug raids in Central Oregon resulting in a dozen arrests. Spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele says nine peo- ple were arrested on fed- eral charges and three on local charges. She says the arrests were concentrated in the Madras and Redmond areas. Steele declined to release many details about Wednesday’s action, say- ing the charging docu- ments and search warrants are sealed. She says those arrested will likely make their initial federal court appearance Thursday in Eugene. Steele says the federal arrests were based on alleged criminal activity, not immi- gration charges. Residents in Madras and Culver told KTVZ they saw many police officers and FBI agents on the streets, and heard loud banging noises. One viewer told the sta- tion by email that Madras sounded like downtown Los Angeles. Man sentenced for sexual activity in retail stores BEND (AP) — A man has been sentenced to three years of probation and two weeks in jail for allegations that he repeatedly masturbated in retail locations around Bend. The Bulletin reported that 33-year-old David Littlehale is accused of exposing and touching himself at TJ Maxx, the Regroup Thrift Store, Blockbuster Video and a Dollar Tree store. Court documents state Littlehale consented to an interview with Bend Police officer Andrew Davis after his arrest in December, dur- ing which he acknowledged his crimes. Littlehale entered guilty pleas to two counts of pub- lic indecency in August as part of a plea deal that dropped four other counts. Littlehale will be allowed to serve his probation in Arizona, where he lives with his wife and 6-month-old son. RE ! A U D YO VITE IN A lab of lov or e s Siste e r d! n Ow “I could not believe how meticulous and thorough Peter was. My carpets are beautiful.” — Debbie Bucher 541-549-6471 35 Years Experience | Peter Herman, Owner ADOPTION EVENT Saturday in Bend with Three Rivers Humane Society Sat., Oct. 7 • 11 am to 3 pm Everything you need for hot tubs including chemicals and natural solutions • • • • Hot Tubs • Saunas • BBQs •Smokers Exercise Therapy Swim Spas Self-massaging Chairs Spa Service & Maintenance CLEARANCE SALE — ALL 2017 HOT TUBS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST 541-790-9679 • 413 W. Hood Ave., Sisters 110 NW Sisemore St., Bend 541-306-2660
