S moke S ignals
august 15, 2014
Korn continues a life of service
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Ryan Korn, 32, born and raised
in the northern Willamette Valley,
has been serving his communities,
including the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde, from his teens
through all his adult life.
Today, he is following two uncles
into the Marion County Sheriff’s
Office, training as a deputy. His
first assignment will be in the Jail
Division.
Korn is entering a department
that has as its first priority and
major success, “a strong connec-
tion, a trusting relationship, a bond
with the community,” said Kevin
Schultz, Korn’s uncle, who retires
this year as Division Commander.
The program also provides in-
mates with opportunities to give
back to the community. Last year,
inmates produced 18,000 pounds
of vegetables in the jail garden
that were donated to the local food
bank.
“From an early age, I knew I
wanted to be in the military or law
enforcement,” Korn says, adding
that he wanted “a career in public
service.
“I wanted to do something that
not everyone can do. I’ve always
had the idea that there are many
who came before me, and made it
possible for me to have the things
I have. Now, it’s my turn.
“Maybe there’s something out
there that I can do to help, maybe
diffuse a potentially explosive situ-
ation, maybe prevent something
(terrible) that otherwise would
have happened.”
Actually, Korn has been mak-
ing it possible for the rest of us to
have the things we have for quite
a while.
Contributed photo
Kevin Schultz, a division commander for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office
and a Grand Ronde Tribal member, pins a badge on Ryan Korn after he was
sworn in as a Marion County sheriff’s deputy recently. Korn is Schultz’s
nephew and also a Tribal member.
From 2001-05, he trained as an
armored reconnaissance special-
ist, a cavalry scout, at Fort Knox
in Kentucky. He deployed to Iraq
out of Fort Lewis in Washington,
and for a year he served in Iraq
as a specialist in charge of the en-
emy prisoner-of-war team on the
ground. He served there during
the country’s first election after the
U.S. invasion and the overthrow of
Saddam Hussein.
Among his missions, he manned a
newly designed Stryker vehicle and
engaged in a three-day firefight to
protect a polling station in Tal Afar.
He says he was impressed at how
many Iraqis lined up to vote, taking
their lives in their hands to do it.
He provided security defending
a convoy of 114 vehicles stretch-
ing out several miles. The convoy
of mechanics, cooks, medics — all
support staff that were not used
to fighting — traveled under this
protection.
The convoy faced sandstorms.
The protective unit dealt with
communication issues, retrieved
vehicles separated from the group,
and defended against mortars,
machine guns, rocket-propelled
grenades and anti-tank mines.
Other missions provided protec-
tion for high-value targets and
detainees. “You name it, we did it,”
Korn says. “There are a thousand
stories for everyone out there.”
When he returned, he was pro-
moted to sergeant.
At the Tribe, Korn has been a
member of the Veterans Special
Event Board and volunteered at
the Grand Ronde Food Bank. He
worked in Human Resources at
Spirit Mountain Casino and later
was a training officer for Security
at the casino.
He also worked for the former
Evergreen International Airlines in
McMinnville, ending as a schedul-
ing supervisor.
He earned a degree in criminal
justice at Western Oregon Univer-
sity in Monmouth.
For the last two years, he served
as a corrections officer at the fed-
eral correctional institution in
Sheridan.
Now, as a deputy since his swear-
ing in on July 22, he trains at the
Marion County jail.
“His training work is the same
as that of all corrections depu-
ties,” says Sgt. Chris Baldridge,
Public Information Officer for the
department. While the work is the
same, Korn is accompanied in his
work by a teacher/trainer from the
department.
As he starts this latest stage in
his career, his uncle, Kevin Schultz,
says he is pleased to see Korn join-
ing the department as he retires.
Schultz has 27 years of service with
the department.
“I’m thankful,” Schultz says,
“that I got to spend my last few
months here to see him sworn in.
It’s pretty special.”
Korn says his uncle has been “a
pretty strong influence in support-
ing me in my goal. He gave me
advice all along the way.”
Another uncle, Melvin Schultz,
served as a sergeant at the Sheriff’s
Office and now is retired.
Korn’s mother, Julie Brown,
Exhibit Supervisor in the Exhibits
& Archive Program of the Land &
Culture Department at the Tribe,
said, “Ryan was certainly influ-
enced by his uncles to pursue a ca-
reer in law enforcement, especially
my brother, Mel, who is more like a
father to him than an uncle.
“It was evident that, even at a
young age, 15, he would follow in
his uncles’ footsteps, beginning
with his position as a junior cadet
with the Philomath Police Depart-
ment. He has always been of admi-
rable character, and we are all very
proud of Ryan. Marion County is
very lucky to have him.”
“I’m really doing this for my
grandmother and my uncles,” Korn
says. “They’ve always been very
proud of me, and I know that seeing
an article in the paper would mean
a lot to them. For my grandmother,
this is really a big deal.”
“I’m proud of all the men in my
family, my sons and my grandsons,”
says grandmother and Tribal Elder
Annabelle (Peachie) Hamm. “Ryan
didn’t always ask for my advice, but
I gave it anyway. They come from
‘good stock,’ don’t you know—the
Petite line!”
“This is a special moment,” says
Kevin. “Ryan’s a great young man,
a bright person and I think he’s
committed. He has a great future.
I’m proud to have him as a mem-
ber of our Sheriff’s Office family.
They become your second family. I
couldn’t be prouder.”
When Korn was sworn in to the
department, his uncle did the hon-
ors. Korn now is in training – with
written and physical tests along
with a background check.
He is now engaged with correc-
tions training at the Department
of Public Safety Standards and
Training, also known as the state’s
police academy. In all, the process
lasts anywhere from six months to
a year.
Request for Qualifications
The Tribe is seeking Requests for Qualifications from individuals
interested in serving as an Appellate Judge for the Court of Ap-
peals. There are 3 positions available. This is a part-time, Tribal
Council-appointed position with a term of two years. To obtain a
copy of the RFQ, contact Angela Fasana at 503-879-4596 or angela.
fasana@grandronde.org. Proposals must be received by 5 p.m.
Sept. 19, 2014.