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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2018)
REGION Thursday, December 6, 2018 East Oregonian Page 3A Oregon State Police seek statutory staffing minimums Gov. Brown asks to fill 50 trooper positions in July By AUBREY WIEBER Capital Bureau For 26 years, Travis Hampton worked out of patrol offices for Oregon State Police. Year after year, he saw calls and car acci- dents increase as the dis- parity between the popula- tion and number of troopers grew. Sitting in those offices, he thought about the work he would do if he ever climbed to the top of the ranks. “I always made myself the promise that if I were ever in this position, I would make sure that citizens and legislators knew the dire straits we’re in,” Hampton said. Hampton is no longer in a patrol post. As state police superintendent, he’s fulfilled that promise. Gov. Kate Brown is pro- posing filling 50 trooper positions in the next state budget that goes into effect next July. That would be the biggest expansion of the state patrol in recent years. Hampton said that could be the differ- ence in whether a trooper is on shift when you crash your car in rural Oregon or stops a drunk driver on Interstate 5 in the early morning. As the agency’s trooper force dwindled, Hampton has become increasingly vocal about the shortages. He says he’s not comfortable with such advocacy but he’d rather be annoying than cut services or lay people off. “Virtually my entire career has been a plea for more resources,” Hampton said. Brown appointed him superintendent in 2016. Hampton, a Gresham Umatilla Co. economic development grants available PENDLETON — Uma- tilla County Community & Economic Development is seeking applicants for its small grants program. Eligible businesses and nonprofit groups that operate in Umatilla County are eligi- ble to apply. The next quar- terly grant application must be submitted by Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. For more information or to obtain a grant appli- cation, visit http://umatilla- county.net/BCC/grants.html. Submit applications to Gail Nelson, Economic Development, 216 S.E. Fourth St., Pendleton, OR 97801 or email to gail.nel- son@umatillacounty.net. Aubrey Wieber/Capital Bureau Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton flips through charts and graphs showing the impacts of OSP’s short staffing. In 2017, the agency was unable to respond to 11,880 calls for service due to staffing levels. native, started with OSP in 1990 when he was 19. He came on 10 years after the state severed the tied between gas tax revenue and OSP’s trooper division. That meant the state agency had to compete with scores of others for a share of general fund budgets. Meantime, Hampton saw Oregon’s population rise as the number of troop- ers lagged. When he started, the state had 512 troopers. Today, it’s budgeted for 454 positions. That’s eight troop- ers for every 100,000 Ore- gonians. Only Florida has a lower trooper per capita ratio. The bottom line of that is troopers can’t respond to every call. In 2017, the agency recorded 11,880 calls for service that it didn’t respond to, or about 33 per day. State police officials have pushed for decades for more funding, but never found a governor sympa- thetic enough to the agen- cy’s shortfalls. “We really have a cham- pion in Governor Brown, where we have not in the past,” Hampton said. When Brown announced her budget in late Novem- ber, Hampton had been told there would be some incre- mental increases to keep his operation afloat. He was surprised to hear the funding bump and her plan to double the number of troopers over the next decade. “I was elated, thankful,” Hampton said. “For the first day I was afraid I was going to wake up and it was a bad dream.” Hampton started lobby- ing Brown two and a half years ago when she inter- viewed him for the job. He hasn’t stopped. Leading up to this budget cycle, he often talked with her staff as she pursued re-election. Heidi Moawad, Brown’s public safety advisor, said Hampton was a strong advo- cate for his agency. He showed her that continuing to run on a slim budget was “untenable.” The added staffing, Hampton said, means there is a better chance a trooper could respond when some- one reports traffic threats, such as a swerving vehicle. More than one trooper might be able to respond to a high- way crash to close off the road and provide medical attention. Some patrol sta- tions around the state would return to 24-hour operation. Now, there are significant gaps. “You could conceivably enter the state in Ashland on I-5 at 3 in the morning behind a drunk driver and leave the state four hours later in Portland and not have a state trooper on duty the entire length of I-5,” Hampton said. The state police do more than patrol highways. They manage sex offend- ers, authorize gun sales, provide forensic services, and conduct fire investiga- tions. When such services need money, Hampton’s usual option is to pull from resources going to troopers and criminal investigations. He typically gets money by keeping trooper positions empty – about 40. He endures that cut to patrol services as the state’s population has skyrock- eted, putting more cars on the highways. In 2011, there Ave. Although there is no fee, those that want to participate need to register in advance. For more informa- tion, contact heather.cul- ley@ci.pendleton.or.us or 541-966-0380. cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Those planning on attending need to register by Friday, Dec. 14. For more information or to RSVP, call 541-276-1987. were just over 300 fatal crashes on Oregon road- ways. Fatalities peaked in 2016 at 450 and have only slightly lowered since. Moawad said the state needs more troopers on the highway stopping speeders and responding promptly to accidents. For years, OSP has lob- bied for more funding. In the current budget, the agency was given $6 million for 20 new trooper and detective positions. But it was told to cut other spending by $12 million. “It’s literally me offering to buy you lunch, then I steal your wallet on the way out,” Hampton said. Hampton doesn’t know how long he will be on the job. Every four years, the superintendent needs to be approved by the Senate and governor. But if it’s not him, someone else will be fight- ing for dollars. He has sup- port from Brown, but she will oversee just one more budget. To stabilize the state police, Hampton said that by 2030, the state should have 15 troopers per 100,000 Oregonians. And he wants that standard written into law so it never hits the lows he’s experienced. Hampton’s goal would put Oregon in the middle of the pack nationally on troop- er-to-resident ratio. “That is definitely not the Cadillac,” Hampton said. “That’s the used Honda Accord of policing. Right now, we are in the Pinto.” ——— Reporter Aubrey Wie- ber: aubrey@salemreporter. com or 503-575-1251. Wie- ber is a reporter for Salem Reporter who works for the Oregon Capital Bureau, a collaboration of EO Media Group, the Pamplin Media Group, and Salem Reporter. BRIEFLY Hospice lights up holiday season HERMISTON — The community is invited to sup- port Vange John Memorial Hospice during the holiday season. In its 30th year, the Light Up A Life fundraiser runs throughout the month. Peo- ple are invited to make a suggested donation of $15 to honor someone or in mem- ory of a loved one or friend. A symbolic light and orna- ment will be illuminated in the window display area provided by Victory Baptist Church at 193 E. Main St., Hermiston. A special Light Up A Life reading will include the names submitted. It will broadcast Sunday, Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. on KOHU 1360 AM. The tax-deductible dona- tions help support services for patients and their fam- ilies provided by the local hospice throughout the year. To Light Up A Life, pro- vide the person’s name the donation is honoring and mail a $15 check to Vange John Memorial Hospice, 645 W. Orchard Ave., Suite 500, Hermiston, OR 97838. For more information or to receive a donation form, call 541-667-3543. Pendleton library sets paint class PENDLETON — A sim- ple art lesson will provide instruction on how to paint a snowman. The free event for adults and teens is Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the meeting room at the Pendleton Pub- lic Library, 502 S.W. Dorion McKay Creek plans Do-si-do at square holiday celebration dance holiday event PENDLETON — McKay Creek Estates is setting the table for its annual holiday meal and celebration. The public is invited to celebrate the season with residents of the assisted liv- ing facility. The menu features Christmas goose, prime rib and ham with all the fixings. In addition, desserts include pecan, pumpkin and apple pie. The event is Thursday, Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. at 1601 Southgate, Pendleton. The The Family Gourmet Feast 2 65 oz.) Filet Mignons 2 65 oz.) Top Sirloins 4 Boneless Chicken Breasts 61 lb. pkg.) 2 64 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops 4 63 oz.) Kielbasa Sausages 4 64 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers Plus, 4 more 4 63 oz.) Potatoes au Gratin Burgers 4 64 oz.) Caramel Apple Tartlets FREE OS Seasoning Packet shown over 55586LDF | $199.91t separately tSavings aggregated single Combo Price $ 49 99 Special Offer SAVE 20% 12/12 • 12pm It’s a Wonderful Life CREED II (PG13) 4:00 7:00 10:00 RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (PG) 7:20 4:50 9:50 FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (PG13) 3:40* 6:40 9:40 INSTANT FAMILY (PG13) 4:10 6:50 9:30 DR. SEUSS' THE GRINCH (PG) 4:40 7:10 9:20 * Matinee Pricing wildhorseresort.com • 541-966-1850 Pendleton, OR I-84 - Exit 216 Mom & Baby Support Group t int’l games excluded. item base price. Limit 2 pkgs. Free gifts must ship with #55586. Standard S&H will be added. Expires 2/28/19. ©2018 OCG | 18M1531 | Omaha Steaks, Inc. Call 1-877-717-9688 ask for 55586LDF www.OmahaSteaks.com/cook31 Out-of-market games only. Selec MILTON-FREEWATER — The Muddy Frogs Square Dance Club invites the pub- lic to learn more about square dancing. The club is holding a Holiday Open House on Sunday from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Milton-Freewater Com- munity Building, 109 N. E. Fifth St. There is no admis- sion charge. 12/06 Cineplex Show Times $5 Classic Movie Ask me how to Bundle and save. CALL TODAY! 1-855-502-2578 Iv Support Holdings Renews at full price. Offer ends 11/30/18. New approved customers only, lease required. Hardware and programming available separately. Other conditions apply. NFL, the NFL Shield design and the NFL SUNDAY TICKET name and logo are registered trademarks of the NFL and its affiliates. ©2018 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. 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