FROM PAGE ONE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021
THE OBSERVER — A5
been beat up in the
course of the last 18 to 24
months.”
That sentiment has been
muted in more rural areas,
where police enjoy a strong
support from local resi-
dents who, by and large,
have a favorable outlook
toward law enforcement,
according to Bell. Much of
that favorable opinion may
stem from the active com-
munity involvement from
police offi cers in rural
communities.
“We have to become
embedded in our commu-
nity. I mean people know
us; we’re only 17,000,”
Byram said, referring to
Pendleton’s population.
“Somebody is going to
know you. You’re only a
few degrees of separation
away from someone you’re
arresting.”
DUTY
Continued from Page A1
“has not garnered any cer-
tifi ed offi cers,” Bell said.
Lateral transfers are
valuable for police depart-
ments due to the amount of
training required for new
offi cers. It can take up to
nine months to transition
a new recruit into an inde-
pendent and capable police
offi cer, Bell said.
“Five to eight years ago
we started retiring police
offi cers — and you can’t
quickly replace the experi-
ence and the wisdom that
those career police offi -
cers possess,” Bell said.
“You genuinely can’t just
replace a police offi cer. It’s
a lengthy road.”
Dealing with a public
image problem
Alex Wittwer/The Observer
Eli Clark, 14, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, carries a Christmas tree that will be sold to support a student trip to Philadelphia. The tree lot, in down-
town La Grande, is a fundraiser for an educational trip to be taken by Elgin and Imbler students.
TREES
Continued from Page A5
The Christmas trees,
which were transported
from a tree farm in Molalla,
are for sale starting at $70
for trees under 7-feet, and
$75 for the taller timbers.
The prices for trees are
slightly higher than pre-
vious years due to a number
of factors exacerbating the
supply of the holiday staple.
“This year there was a
big shortage because of the
drought,” said Aimee Pat-
terson, a volunteer helping
unload and place trees in
The Local’s courtyard along
with her husband, Ken
Patterson.
The Union County Youth
Heritage program was
spearheaded by Georgia
McKee, who has lent a hand
in leading the annual fund-
raiser for nearly 30 years.
The sale isn’t the only
way the students have
raised money over the
years.
“We’ve done things like
OVERDOSES
Continued from Page A1
that contribute to overdoses.
We also believe people are
seeking out very potent and
powerful drugs like fen-
tanyl that are so strong they
are more likely to result in
overdose.”
The authorities urges the
public to be aware of the
increased risk of overdose.
The Center for Human
Development off ers free
Narcan kits, an emergency
treatment that can reverse
an overdose. The organiza-
tion also encourages indi-
Alex Wittwer/The Observer
Kolt Alam, 12, removes twine from a Christmas tree for sale at The Local in downtown La Grande on Friday,
Nov. 26, 2021. The fundraiser supports a trip to Philadelphia for Elgin and Imbler students.
cookie grams,” Aimee Pat-
terson said. “We’ve done
a lot of cans and bottles
(collections).”
In 2019, the Christmas
tree fundraiser was held
at the former veterinarian
clinic on Island Avenue.
This year, the new location
in downtown La Grande
should be a boon to sales,
Ken Patterson said. The
tree lot will be for sale from
2-8 p.m. on Fridays, 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and
noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays
until all the trees are sold.
“This has been a real
good fundraiser for the kids
over the years,” Ken Pat-
terson said.
viduals to call the drug
abuse Hope line, at 541-562-
HOPE, which “is there and
ready to help when people
need assistance and are
ready for that help.”
Brogoitti noted those
who are addicted may
not be prepared to ask for
help. For that reason, the
availability of Narcan is
essential.
“Making Narcan kits
widely available to sub-
stance users and those
around them save lives,” she
said. “Anyone can have and
use this lifesaving medica-
tion, and it is available free
at CHD.”
While there may be no
clear answers for the recent
increase in local overdoses,
authorities are monitoring
the situation and are ready
to provide assistance.
“One of the most
important tools we have at
this point is making sure
that people using substances
and their family and friends
know about the increase
in overdoses that we are
seeing in our community
and making sure they have
and know how to use Nal-
oxone/Narcan,” Brogoitti
said. “We also want to make
sure people have informa-
tion about where they can
get treatment and services
when they are ready.”
FEEL THE SPEED,
EVEN AT PEAK TIMES.
Holding the
line on values
While current labor
shortages are not limited
to one career, police agen-
cies are facing yet another
hurdle in their attempts
to bring in new hires —
a growing sentiment that
paints police offi cers in a
bad light.
“Everybody is having
a hard time fi nding people
who want to work, and
especially this profession
right now. It’s probably not
the most sexy profession,”
said Pendleton Police Chief
Charles Byram.
Byram, along with Bell
and Duby, noted the public
image of law enforcement
has deteriorated in the
wake of massive protests
and riots across the nation
following the murder of
George Floyd in Minne-
apolis on May 25, 2020.
Images from major cities
showed police clad in riot
gear blanketing city blocks
in tear gas, as well as sev-
eral incidents of assault
against members of the
media.
“Since George Floyd
we have seen a marked
decrease in the number
of people interested in
applying to be police offi -
cers,” Bell said. “Law
enforcement has really
Byram said those who
are interested in a law
enforcement career are
welcome to join an offi cer
for a ride-along or to come
in and chat with the police
chief about the job.
“Quite honestly, you
know, I’m open for all
comers,” Byram said.
“Whether you have expe-
rience or not, it’s one of
those things where we’re
also good at training cops.”
However, not everyone
who applies should be
hired as a police offi cer.
They need to meet the
basic physical and psycho-
logical standards set by
the agencies and the state,
as well as passing back-
ground checks and medical
screenings.
“The one thing that I
won’t do is sacrifi ce our
standards just to make a
hiring decision, I won’t do
it,” Byram said. “If you do
that, then you’re setting
yourself up for disaster. If
we have to run short for
a little bit, that’s fi ne. But
our values, our mission,
our beliefs aren’t going to
be sacrifi ced just because I
need another body on
the road.”
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