LOCAL: American Legion tries to regroup,
expand local post. PAGE 8
The
BUSINESS: Baker High’s FBLA does well at
State competition. PAGE 3
Baker County Press
TheBakerCountyPress.com
75¢
All local. All relevant. Every Friday.
Friday, April 15, 2016 • Volume 3, Issue 16
Nichols says he’ll look at consolidating
City police and County Sheriff
• LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT
WEIGHS IN
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
At an April 1 meet and
greet in Halfway for Coun-
ty Commissioners candi-
dates, candidate and Baker
City CPA Bruce Nichols
was asked by a member
of the audience to address
rumors circulating that he
would explore consolidat-
ing the Baker City Police
Department and the Baker
County Sheriff’s Offi ce
should he be elected.
Nichols’ answer regard-
ing local law enforcement
consolidation? A defi nite
maybe.
Nichols responded as
transcribed from audio of
the meeting, “I brought
that up and I said some-
thing I shouldn’t have be-
cause I didn’t want to bring
that up at that time.”
Nichols was alluding to a
statement he made during a
meet and greet last month.
He continued, “But now
that you did, I will answer
the question. Ah, I’m in
favor of consolidating as
many organizations as
I can, but I don’t know
whether that’s feasible
or not. And if we have
an idea to help people of
Baker County and save the
people of Baker County
money, by operating more
effi ciently and effectively,
why not take a look at
that? And, in other words,
I think we need to ah, get
a committee to study the
issue ... In other words,
we need accountants. We
need attorneys. We need
fi re chiefs. We need police
chiefs. We need union
people, ah, all this kind of
stuff. And sit down and
have a discussion and start
studying and see if maybe
we can have emergency
services that will save the
people money… maybe.
“It may not work; it may
be illegal. We may not do
it. I don’t know.
“[We could] possibly cre-
ate another district outside
of the committee, ya know,
I don’t know whether it
would work, it just needs
to be talked about and have
further discussion. It may
work and may not. I’d like
to fi nd out.”
Local law enforcement
consolidation is not a new
idea—nor is one they en-
dorse, say some local law
enforcement and elected
offi cials.
SEE CONSOLIDATION
PAGE 5
Submitted Photo.
Bruce Nichols.
Fundraiser begins for
‘Gold Rush’
regional SWAT team robot
cast to
attend local
events
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Todd Hoffman of the popular Discovery Channel series
“Gold Rush” has confi rmed that he and a few other mem-
bers of this season’s cast are looking forward to attending
several Baker County events over the summer and fall.
This season of the hit show will fi lm in Hereford.
Hoffman and crew will be seen on the Baker County
Republican fl oat during Miners Jubilee during the parade.
They will then be available at the Republican booth in the
Geiser-Pollman Park—that booth sits next to the Eastern
Oregon Mining Association display, which is the corner-
stone of event each year.
Major event appearances both prior to and after Miners
Jubilee are currently in the works.
Hoffman is also scheduled to attend the Wicked Ways
Masquerade Ball at the Geiser Grand on Saturday, Octo-
ber 29. Tickets for this event will go on sale in May at the
front desk of the hotel and at www.theBakerCountyPress.
com.
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
L-R: Baker County dispatcher Ruthie Boyd, Chris Boyd of RoboteX, ‘Editorial Assistant’ Vivien McQuisten at
the control, NE Oregon Regional SWAT commander Sgt. Gary Bell, Sgt. Dusty Perry of the La Grande PD
and Baker County Reserve Program Commander Jerry Boyd show off their dream robot, the Avatar III.
• NE OREGON REGIONAL SWAT TEAM
SAYS $25K NEEDED FOR POTENTIALLY
LIFESAVING ROBOT
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
“It looks like something out of ‘Transformers,’ doesn’t
it?” asked RoboteX trainer Chris Boyd.
Last Saturday, Boyd demonstrated the Avatar III robot,
which is the model the Northeast Oregon Regional
SWAT team hopes to purchase—what they say is a vital
piece of equipment that will add to the safety of their
team members, victims and even crime suspects.
About a dozen members of law enforcement gathered
in the morning to familiarize themselves with the robot,
with a media-only demonstration following.
“The robot is so intuitive,” said Boyd. “There’s just
not a lot of training time up front.” Boyd, a 28-year law
enforcement veteran in San Diego County, has been dem-
onstrating the Avatar for three years now.
The problem? Purchase of the robot, priced in the same
range as a small car, depends strictly on donations.
Kerry McQuisten / The Baker County Press
With a built-in camera and audio, the robot shows
an armed suspect out of an offi cer’s line of sight.
Standoff
ends safely
On Tuesday, April 12, at approximately 5:33 p.m., Baker
City Police Offi cers made contact with a male subject in
Baker City’s Mount Hope Cemetery, 1000 S. Bridge St.
after a family member reported concerns the male was
suicidal.
According to a press release from Lt. Dustin Newman,
offi cers attempted to make contact with the male, who
was seated in the driver’s seat of his vehicle, but the male
would not respond to offi cers.
Offi cers were able to see the barrel of a rifl e in the
vehicle, which confi rmed an earlier report made by the
family member. After approximately a three-and-a-half
hour standoff the male surrendered himself to Offi cers on
scene at 9:14 P.M. without incident. The male was trans-
ported to St. Alphonsus Emergency Room for evaluation
following his surrender. A consent search of the vehicle
revealed a rifl e, pistol and shotgun.
The Baker City Police Department was assisted by the
Oregon State Police, Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce and
members from the Crisis Negotiation Team, which is part
of the Northeast Oregon Regional Swat Team.
There are no criminal charges pending at this time.
SEE ROBOT PAGE 5
Friday
Mostly sunny, highs in the mid 50s. Clear and
cool, lows in the mid 20s at night.
Saturday
Sunny and warmer, highs in the mid 60s. Clear
and not as cool at night, lows near freezing.
Sunday
Mostly sunny with continued warming trend.
Highs in the mid 70s. Mostly clear at night. Lows
in the upper 30s.
Your weekend weather forecast for Baker County.
Our forecast made possible by this
generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
FBLA competes at state
Woman shoots herself in leg
Baker City Council coverage
County: Railroad lease
Sumpter: Marijuana store?
Homemade Goodness Column
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
Page
3
5
8
9
10
11