community
july17
2014
Sheriff Cautions Public on Use of Force
About thirty local residents
gathered at the Vernonia Scout Cabin
to hear a presentation on Use of Force
and other firearms issues by Columbia
County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson.
Dickerson’s message was very
clear: Citizens are within their rights to
use deadly force only to protect them-
selves if they believe they are being
threatened.
Dickerson stated that he
“wholeheartedly” supports owner-
ship of firearms, not just for sport, but
for self-protection, but that a firearm
should be considered a last resort. “I
carry my weapon all the time when I’m
off duty, but I never want to have to use
it,” said Dickerson. “I hope I never have
to shoot someone.”
The presentation was the sec-
ond meeting with local law enforcement
officials organized by the newly formed
‘Vernonia Neighborhood Watch’ group.
Vernonia Police Chief Mike
Conner has been working with the
neighborhood watch group to provide
information and local status updates on
the Vernonia Police Department. Con-
ner invited Dickerson to speak at this
second informational meeting.
Conner opened the meeting by
briefly discussing local crime enforce-
ment issues, before turning the meeting
over to the Sheriff.
Dickerson took time to explain
Concealed Carry License and Open
Carry laws and other basic firearms rules
and regulations. Dickerson noted that
Oregon is an Open Carry state, meaning
citizens can openly carry their firearms
in cities that have not passed an ordi-
nance banning it.
Dickerson shared his own per-
sonal viewpoint on the Open Carry law.
“I’m pro Second Amendment and peo-
ple’s rights,” explained Dickerson. “But
in order to keep those rights and not
alarm the reactionaries, let’s keep it con-
cealed. My personal preference is that
everybody just carried concealed. Don’t
draw attention to yourself. That’s just
my viewpoint.”
Dickerson pointed out that he al-
most always carries concealed when off
duty in order to protect himself and his
family.
“If I’m at the mall or out to din-
ner with my family and I see something
bad happening, I’m not going to take my
gun out and make an arrest,” said Dick-
erson. “First of all, I’m not going to get
shot without being prepared. I don’t
want to get into a gunfight.”
The main topic of the evening
involved Dickerson explaining the use
of force in protecting private property
and answered questions throughout the
evening about different scenarios for use
of force.
Dickerson’s message concern-
ing use of force was also very clear:
Citizens may not take the law into their
own hands and use deadly force to pro-
tect property. “No, you can’t do that,”
said Dickerson. He used the example
of someone going into your garage, tak-
ing some of your possessions and run-
ning away when you confront them.
“You can’t shoot them,” said Dicker-
son. “They are committing one crime,
trespassing, and potentially a second,
burglary in the second degree, and your
committing a homicide. It doesn’t equal
out.”
Dickerson was clear that if you
are being physically threatened you are
within your rights to protect yourself,
but suggested that anyone who uses a
firearm to protect themselves should
expect significant legal and civil ramifi-
cations and actions, including civil law-
suits, investigations and expenses.
“If you end up having to use
deadly physical force you have to be jus-
tified,” said Dickerson.
Chief Conner noted there is a
large difference between a criminal trial
and a civil trial. “The burden of proof in
a civil trial is far less than in a criminal
trial,” said Conner.
Dickerson stated that sometimes
people who use force have to do so be-
cause they make the situation worse by
their own actions. Dickerson called this
scenario, “creating your own jeopardy.”
He used a real life example of an offi-
cer who jumped in front of an oncoming
car, driven by a suspect in a crime, in or-
der to hinder their getaway. The officer
claimed he had to shoot the driver be-
cause they were going to run him down.
“They said, ‘You didn’t have to shoot
him because you didn’t have to jump in
front of the car,’” explained Dickerson.
Both Conner and Dickerson
emphasized that citizens should re-
frain from taking the law into their own
hands and instead be a good witness.
They suggested getting good descrip-
tions of any perpetrators including age,
hair color and any clothing they are
wearing, as well as of any vehicles in-
volved. They suggested using a cam-
era phone to take photographs. “If you
want to shoot someone, shoot them
with your cell phone,” said Dickerson.
Dickerson addressed several
issues during his hour discussion, in-
cluding the current status of the Sher-
iff’s Department. Dickerson also spent
some time explaining the matrix the
county jail uses to decide which pris-
oners they hold and which to release.
Dickerson noted that the jail is still not
fully staffed following the passage of
the jail funding levy this spring and is
currently only housing twenty-five lo-
cal inmates. Dickerson says he hopes to
have the jail fully operational and able to
house 100 local prisoners by the end of
the year.
For more information about the
Vernonia Neighborhood Watch program
go to vernoniawatch.org. You can con-
tact them at alert97064@gmail.com or
by phone at 503-705-5751.
3
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
503-367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.com
Contributors
Chip Bubl
Tobie Finzel
Karen Kain
Dr. Carol McIntyre
Aaron Miller
Natalie Wallace
Grant Williams
Photography
Scott Laird
Want to advertise?
Have an article?
Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com
One year subscriptions
(24 issues) $35
Vernonia’s Voice is published
on the 1st and 3rd Thursday
of each month.
Vernonia’s Voice, LLC
PO Box 55
Vernonia, OR 97064
503-367-0098
www.VernoniasVoice.com
City Administrator
Candidates Interviewed
The Vernonia City Council
voted on Saturday, July 12 to offer the
permanent City Administrator position
to one of the three candidates following
a series of interviews on the same day.
The candidates were inter-
viewed by three separate panels: a pan-
el of citizens including representatives
from several city committees; a panel
of city staff; and a panel made up of the
four current City Councilors. Current
Vernonia Mayor and acting City Ad-
ministrator Josette Mitchell was one of
the candidates being interviewed for the
position.
Following the interviews the
Council met in Executive Session and
deliberated for almost three hours about
the interviews and the recommenda-
tions from the citizen and staff panels.
Following the Executive Session, the
Council met in open session and in-
structed city staff to begin negotiations
with their first choice candidate. The
Council’s choice will not be made pub-
lic until negotiations are complete and
an offer has been accepted.
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7
Lady’s Night Wed 5-12
Cedar Side Inn
“STILL BIKER FRIENDLY”
Live Music
Karaoke
Every 2nd & Last Friday
Taco Tuesday
from opening until 9pm
3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25
Ping Pong
Every 2nd & Last Sunday
iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events
756 Bridge Street, Vernonia
503-429-5841
• Specialty hamburgers
• Draft beer & mixed drinks
• Pool tables & satelite TV
• Special live music events
• Free Wi-fi
Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight •
733 Bridge St, Vernonia
Jamboree Weekend
Aug. 1 & 2
Dixie Wrecked
Pool Tournament
Most Friday Nights
Beer & Kegs to go
Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM
• 503-429-9999
