Smoke signals., May 01, 2016, Page 10, Image 10

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S moke S ignals
MAY 1, 2016
Tribe brings security in-house
By Brent Merrill
Smoke Signals staff writer
The Tribe now has its own Secu-
rity Department and will no longer
contract out security services on
Tribal grounds.
Beginning Saturday, April 23,
Tribal Security took over from
Advance Security, which had been
contracting to provide security
oficers for the last several years.
Before Advance, the Tribe contract-
ed with Pro Star Security.
The one constant in security
throughout has been Oficer Juan
Sifuentez, who has provided securi-
ty services to the Tribe for the last
19 years through Pro Star and then
Advance. He is now heading the
Tribe’s irst-ever in-house Security
Department.
“We’re here to help,” said Sifuen-
tez. “We want to make it a positive
when they see our security oficers
and they know that we are going
to be trying to help the community.
It’s more of a respect type of thing.
“It’s going to be our goal to be a
positive role model out there in the
community. It’s a lot different at-
mosphere now. I’m excited. I think
it’s great that the Tribe inally has
its own department.”
Currently, the Security Depart-
ment consists of Sifuentez as the
head and his second in command in
the role of lead oficer is Sgt. Roel
Hernandez.
Sifuentez and Hernandez will
be joined by ive full-time security
oficers – three of whom are Tribal
members. Tribal member oficers
are Daniel Hyatt Jr., James Knight
and Richard Brisbois, and they will
be joined by Oficer Raymond Daly.
“In this community and for our
Tribal members those entry level
positions are so important,” said
Tribal Council member Tonya Glea-
son-Shepek. “On-the-job training is
a huge beneit and this opens that
opportunity. We are a community
of individual families, but more
important-
ly we are
all one big
family and
if you can
get Tribal
members
that are
invested in
this com-
m u n i t y
Juan Sifuentez
then they
are going to be able to deal with
whatever issues more appropri-
ately and take the right approach.
“They (Tribal Security oficers)
will understand who we are and
our dynamics and become part of
the family and be better able to
intervene when there are issues.
That’s why I like the idea of doing
it in-house.”
Hernandez joins the Tribal Se-
curity Department after being a
security guard at Spirit Mountain
Casino for 14 years.
“I’m glad that Roel accepted the
position because he has the experi-
ence,” said Sifuentez. “We share the
same type of vision and that just
makes us even stronger. The thing
for me that I really liked was that
he made it known that he wants
to be part of the community and is
willing to stay out here and be with
the community. That is a big part
because we have to have somebody
that is wanting to be part of the
community. Roel really does care.”
Hernandez began his career with
the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice in the largest prison system
in the United States before coming
to the Paciic Northwest and work-
ing for the Oregon Youth Authority
and spending time as a reserve ofi-
cer for the Yamhill County Sheriff’s
Department.
Hernandez said he loved working
at the casino.
“My time at the casino was great,”
said Hernandez. “I learned a lot
about the Tribe and got to meet a lot
Hunting & Fishing
Lifeways of the Grand Ronde People
Who: All Grand Ronde Tribal members.
What: We would like to record your family’s hunting and
fishing stories for inclusion in the Tribe’s cultural
and historical collections.
Where: Chachalu: Tribal Museum and Cultural Center
When: Starting September 1st, 2015
How: Contact Stacey Runningbird @ 503-879-2381
of the Tribal members and a lot of the
Tribal Elders. I hated leaving, but it
was time for a change and I think
this is going to be a very positive
change. Hopefully, I’m able to con-
tribute a lot more to the community.”
Hernandez’ former supervisor
Joann Mercier, who is the director
of Security at Spirit Mountain
Casino, said the Tribe’s gain is her
department’s loss.
“Roel was a great oficer,” said
Mercier. “The internal as well as
external guests enjoyed and re-
spected him. He was here for many
years and is truly a Spirit Mountain
family member. He will be greatly
missed.”
“I think it’s a great hire,” said
Tribal General Manager Dave Ful-
lerton. “He (Hernandez) is someone
familiar with the community and
he and Juan are dedicated, good
people to have as part of our team.”
Fullerton said he has nothing but
conidence in Sifuentez to lead the
Security Department.
“You’ve got someone in (Sifuent-
ez) that has historical knowledge.
You’ve got someone that knows
these buildings inside and out,”
said Fullerton. “He knows what
the expectation of Tribal Council
is. He knows what the expectation
of the executive staff is as far as
level of security. I think it’s hugely
valuable. I think you have a very
loyal employee in Juan. He remains
committed to the organization. He
takes pride in what he’s doing.”
Tribal Council member Jon A.
George said having an in-house Se-
curity Department is another step
in the Tribe’s sovereignty.
“I think it’s great. I was ecstatic
when I found out we were going to
do our own,” said George. “I think
our Security Department is a great
enhancement to our safety and pro-
tecting all of our Tribal assets and
all of our properties. The security
is right here. They are looking over
and looking out for all of us.”
George also thinks Sifuentez is
the right it for the job.
“He knows our Tribe and he
knows our people and he knows
our community,” said George. “He
is very approachable and he is just
a great guy. He treats you respect-
fully. I think it’s wonderful.”
Sifuentez said the new depart-
ment will do exactly what the old
security team did. They will con-
tinue to make sure the facilities
are secure, answer alarm calls,
provide irst response for everyday
governmental activities, cover spe-
cial events, provide process serving
and act as bailiffs in Tribal Court.
Sifuentez said he believes the
jobs will positively affect the com-
munity.
“It will have a huge impact,” said
Sifuentez. “It gives the oficers the
opportunity to actually contrib-
ute to their community and also
better themselves as far as their
employment.”
Gleason-Shepek said she takes
pride in being part of a leadership
that sees the opportunities created
as a way of continuing to elevate
the community as a whole.
“Anytime that we can empower
and lift them up (Tribal members)
and change their lives, it’s a good
thing,” said Gleason-Shepek. “That
makes me so proud.”
Fullerton said the jobs the Tribe
created to staff the Security Depart-
ment are better jobs than had been
offered by the previous contractor.
“It’s been a good transition get-
ting our own Tribal security,” said
Fullerton. “We’ve got more control.
We have people I think that are
more dedicated to the property and
to the membership. They feel like
they are part of the team. So I think
it’s a great move. These are better
quality jobs with beneits and we
pay a couple of dollars more an
hour than the contractor paid. It’s
a career opportunity.”
To contact the Tribe’s Security
Department, call 503-879-2478 or
971-901-1031 after 6 p.m. 
First Foods Celebration
set for May 21
The Tribe’s Culture Commit-
tee is inviting the community
Food is history. Food is life. Food is medicine.
to share in a celebration of the
First Foods of Grand Ronde on
Saturday, May 21, in the Tribal
Community Center.
The gathering will begin at 11
a.m. with the meal being served
family style between noon and
1 p.m. This year’s event will
highlight foods traditionally used
both pre-contact and post-Res-
ervation, including deer, elk,
salmon, eel, turkey, quail, rabbit,
game hens, fry bread, wild rice, berries, acorn, camas, elderberry and
other wild-crafted foods gathered and prepared by Tribal families.
The Culture Committee is requesting that anyone with an interest
in donating food or volunteering should contact Francene Ambrose
at 503-879-3663.
For more information about the celebration or to share a family
experience with traditional foods during protocol, contact Sarah
Ross at 503-879-2006. 
First Foods