a’1,ï ^îortlanfr Observer
Page 4
August 10. 2011
‘We Don’t Give Up’
murders, which Weatheroy explained are
difficult cases to solve.
“Overtime you start to build a data base of
unsolved cases,” he said. “They get caught
up in the viscous cycle where they (the Hot
Squad) never got the chance to put in the
necessary efforts to work on those cold
cases.”
Consequently, he said Portland recog­
nized the need to do something different.
“It wasn’t just us,” said Weatheroy. “Po­
lice agencies across the country realized the
need as well.”
Over the years, the Cold Case Unit has
c o n t i n u e d f r o m front
would get away with the crime,” he said.
“And then we get to tell them that they are
going to have to pay the price for what they
did.”
Before the creation of the unit, all homicide
cases, hot, warm and cold, were the respon­
sibility of the Hot Squad, which is comprised
of 10 detectives and two sergeants on call 24
hours a day.
In the late 90s, however, there was a push
tor a cold case unit after an influx of gang
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been funded by two-grants, co-sponsored
Although the case remained unsolved for
by the Federal Department of J ustice and The years. Cold Case detectives began re-exam­
National Institute of Justice.
ining this case in 2008, when Dunkin’s un­
In an effort to reduce the number of linger­ solved homicide was featured in a set of
ing murder cases throughout the country, p lay in g card s d istrib u te d th ro u g h o u t
the first grant was given in 2008 and allocated Oregon’s correctional facilities.
$237,000 to the unit.
Featured on each card was information on
The monies enabled the hiring of eight 52 different homicides from the Portland metro
retired homicide detectives to be brought area, including Dunkin’s. A tip was gener­
back into the force and help with case load. ated from Dunkin’s card which led to the
“Initially they volunteered their time” arrest of Brad Ballantyne in July 2010.
Weatheroy said.
As a part of a guilty plea negotiation, the
The grant allowed the unit to pay the family had the opportunity to confront the
retired detectives 20 hours a week per per­ killer.
son, and pay the crime lab, so they can test
W eatheroy rem em bers the em otion
on an overtime basis and shorten the turn­ present in the room at the time.
around time on evidence testing.
"This gave the family a chance to ask
Although the crime lab is responsible for questions,” he said. “And in that respect, 1
evaluating evidence from all of the police feel like they were able to get some justice.”
agencies in Oregon, the added funding al­
Although the job is tough, it is also ex­
lowed the unit to hire criminalists on overtime tremely rewarding, Weatheroy said.
shifts, said Weatheroy.
"In a lot of ways I think people have jobs
The unit received a second grant in 2010 they’re meant to do, and I think this is one of
for$257,000.
the things I was meant to do,” he said.
“We currently have about 300 unsolved
“Sometimes, what’s not always recognized
homicides and for a metropolitan city our size is that when someone’s life is taken, it impacts
that is about average,” he said.
so many different people,” he said. “It impacts
Over the past several months, the unit has all of their friends, relatives, co workers, neigh­
found success.
bors, and it has quite a ripple effect.”
“We have recently solved a 1963 case,” he
In an effort to get the word out, the unit
said. "Through a bunch of research and the does a number of community outreach ef­
assistance from the community, we were able forts, including distributing the playing
to figure out where he was and show his cards, public service announcements, and
photograph to the family and witnesses.”
displays on TriMet buses and billboards.
Weatherly said sometimes relationships
This sends a message to the families that
and loyalties change overtime, and people their loved one is important and their case
who were previously not willing to speak matters, he said. “It also shows we are not
with detectives become willing to talk.
going to give up until we get the people who
He said all of the cases he has worked on are responsible for their loved one’s mur­
have been really gratifying.
der.”
“We have been involved in solving a lot
"What we have tried to do as part of the
of cases over the past several years, so all of cold case unit is to get all of our cold cases
them are pretty precious, but recently that out there to all the eyes, ears and the minds
one stands out in my mind,” he said.
of people who have information about our
On New Year’ s Day in 1993, Kimberly Jean cases,” he said. “It’s a way for us to think
Dunkin, 30, was found shot to death inside outside the box and try to develop tips and
the driver’s seat of her blue 1973 Chevrolet leads instead of sitting back and waiting for
Camaroparked in front of4927N.E. Skidmore people to contact us.”
St. the morning after attending a New Years
Weatheroy repeats his Cold Case Unit’s
Eve party.
motto: "We don’t give up, we never give up.”
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