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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2015)
NOVEMBER 15, 2015 S moke S ignals 9 Tribal Elder hangs up badge for the final time By Paul Daquilante Yamhill Valley News-Register Deputy Buddy White, who worked his final shift the last week of October with the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office, escorted an inmate from the jail to Judge Cynthia East- erday’s courtroom for a probation violation hearing. White seated her in the jury room until the proceeding took place. After it finished, he returned her to jail. As a member of the court security staff, it’s the kind of work White’s been doing for more than 16 years. White began his law enforcement career in January 1974 as an un- paid reserve with the Willamina Police Department. Five months later, when a full-time patrol posi- tion opened, Chief Bill Hale added White to the force. “I rode with him for one day,” said the 77-year-old White, who also is a Grand Ronde Tribal Elder. “He showed me how to write a ticket. I bought a gun from my brother and learned on my own. I look back on that time and say, ‘Good grief.’ ” White underwent 280 hours of training as part of the Bureau of Police Standards and Training class No. 52. New officers are introduced to more formal and extensive training nowadays. The Department of Pub- lic Safety Standards and Training, successor to the BPST and head- quartered in Salem, requires 640 hours of training. However, on-the-job training worked for White. His career spanned 41 years, the last 37 with the Sheriff’s Office, where he worked patrol and then court security. White was born in McMinnville. He was raised in Grand Ronde by his grandparents, Sam and Clara Riggs. His grandmother instilled a strong work ethic, something White has always appreciated and re- spected. “I’ve worked my entire life,” White said. “I was in the berry you just don’t know.” White said he enjoyed the daily interaction with court security. Mosiman said White’s “perfect demeanor” en- abled him to function at a high level as a court secu- rity deputy. “I supervised that unit when I came back as an administrative sergeant,” Mosiman said. “He has the perfect personality. He’s low key, talks to people calmly, is aware of what is going on and reacts quick- ly. He’s sharp and aware of his surroundings.” Mosiman said White had the ideal mixture of ex- hibiting a restrained per- sonality while remaining Courtesy photo by Rockne Roll/News-Register tactically aware of what’s Yamhill County Sheriff’s Deputy Buddy White, who is also a Grand Ronde Tribal Elder, going on around him. escorts an inmate to her probation hearing at the Yamhill County Courthouse in “He’s been a great guy to McMinnville on Wednesday, Oct. 28. After working in law enforcement for 41 years, have up there,” Mosiman said. “He’s been a staple.” White retired the last week of October. Chris Schlegel, former gardless. fields when I was 6 years old.” commander of the Benton “He was a natural community White was born into a law en- County Jail in Corvallis, recently policing officer before that catch forcement family. His father, Or- retired from the court security staff. phrase was even around,” said rin, worked for the Salem Police Sheriff Tim Svenson said a de- Capt. Jason Mosiman, who coordi- Department. A brother, Murch, cision has already been made on nates court security in conjunction worked for the Port of Portland Po- Schlegel’s replacement and he is with his job as jail commander. lice Department and the Portland moving to replace White, too. White said he was talking to Sgt. Police Bureau. “It wouldn’t matter what day it Jim Wager, who encouraged him to White attended Grand Ronde was, he was always there,” Svenson apply for an opening in the depart- Elementary School and Willamina said of White. “Rarely did he miss ment. Then-Sheriff Bud Mekkers, High School. He dropped out at 17 a day of work. You knew in the one of six sheriffs White has worked and enlisted in the Air Force. morning he was going to be there, under, hired him in May 1978. After serving four years, White no questions asked. He did an ex- “Patrol was my niche,” said White, returned to the West Valley and cellent job. He was a dependable who, like all deputies, worked worked at a variety of jobs, never employee.” throughout the county that was staying in any very long. Svenson said White always inter- divided into quadrants at the time. “I was bored in a plywood mill,” acted well with the courtroom staff, Deputies rotated from one quad- White said. “I went into city hall, I which includes judges John Collins, rant to another. think to pay a water bill, and the Easterday, Ronald Stone and Ladd Retired Sheriff Jack Crabtree chief was there. He was looking for Wiles, and their judicial assistants. said White had a big heart for the reserve officers.” Svenson’s predecessor, Crabtree, West Valley – Grand Ronde, Sher- White went on to serve the Wil- said White has been discussing idan and Willamina. lamina department for four years. wrapping up his law enforcement “His real strength, and I think he During that period, White held career for quite a long time. would confirm this, is that he loved the rank of sergeant and even in- “Whenever I’d see him, he would working the West Valley,” Crabtree terim chief. However, those were tell me, ‘I’m about to retire,’ ” said. “He felt best out there. It was working positions, not desk jobs, Crabtree said. “I’d say, ‘I think you a strength of his, working the West so he spent his days on patrol re- should retire, as soon as I leave.’ He Valley.” was a steady hand. He always had a White spent one year with the calmness and cool head to him. He detective division, which consisted never looked for any more trouble of one sergeant and one deputy at than he had to have.” the time. Its scope has expanded Parole and Probation Officer Lisa greatly since then. Settell walked into the control room This is White’s second retire- on the morning of one of White’s ment. Early retirement initially last days on the job. occurred on Dec. 31, 1998. “Buddy’s got a lot of life stories,” At the time, Deputy Steve Man- she said, after giving him a hug. ley was helping the Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bill Lane, retired from launch the court security program. the Federal Correctional Institu- So, White put his uniform back on tion in Sheridan, is a member of and returned to work. the court security staff. Court security deputies transport “You want some stories on Bud- inmates to and from other facili- dy?” Lane said. “They don’t have to ties, escort them to and from court be true, do they?” appearances and monitor them White said his decision to retire during courthouse visits. Their “feels like I’m doing something office is a control room on the first wrong.” floor of the courthouse. He and his wife, Anna, have been White definitely loved his years married 32 years. They have five spent on patrol and thoroughly children, and many grandchildren enjoyed the years he served on the and great-grandchildren. He’ll court security staff. surely have more time to spend “I enjoyed meeting people (on with all of them now. n patrol). They’re not all bad. I like helping people. I don’t know if I Reprinted with permission from could do it today. It’s almost scary the Oct. 30 issue of the Yamhill Ad created by George Valdez out there. You stop someone and Valley News-Register.
