Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (July 2, 2020)
8A | JULY 2, 2020 Cahoots from A7 regarding crisis de-esca- lation and intervention,” said SLMH Executive Director Damien Sands. “We very much see them as a sister agency, and in the last few years have had discussions around how a CAHOOTS-like program might work for us.” The nonprofit has so far found good chem- istry with CGPD when aid is needed to address mental health care and support situations. “We really value our relationship with CGPD, and I have wit- nessed the amazing work of [Shepherd’s] staff first hand when it comes to crisis calls,” said Sands. “When both SLMH and CGPD are on site at a call, I have seen clear communica- tion and each group al- lowing the other to fill their respective duties. “That said, both groups are over- stretched and we are limited by our hours and funding in how we can offer more support.” Both Sands and Shep- herd see funding as a significant hurdle to implementing a more effective program. “We could build a CAHOOTS ‘lite’ mod- el in partnership with CGPD, White Bird and possibly Lane Coun- ty [Health and Human Services], where there are some funds for rural crisis,” suggested Sands, “but ultimately this would be for the city to put forward as a priori- ty.” Shepherd agrees a model along these lines would be a great bene- fit to the police depart- ment, “But it would cost money,” he lamented. “I do see a potential where some partnerships could be developed where a smaller version or offshoot of [CA- HOOTS] could work.” Brubaker expressed optimism about the partnership. “South Lane Mental Health has been a big partner of ours for de- cades and they are very capable of working that out with public safety about how they could integrate in and become a good response,” he said. Brubaker noted that rural communities tend to see challenges with the geographic spread across a large area and how far a team could reach into the country- Public Notices The Lowest Rates in Lane County PUBLIC MEETINGS, TRUSTEE NOTICES, PROBATE, AUCTION & FORECLOSURE NOTICES, AND MORE. Published weekly in the Cottage Grove Sentinel and online at cgsentinel.com S entinel C ottage G rove Contact: Meg Fringer 541-942-3325 x1200 mfringer@cgsentinel.com | COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL side. As team responses increase in mileage, law enforcement backup response times and the number of calls taken in a day start to diminish. “CAHOOTS started off with a very trun- cated schedule of a few days a week for what they considered to be high-density call times,” said Brubaker, who rec- ommended small towns target these times to have an intervention team and vehicle avail- able in a pilot program. Expansion of the pro- gram could follow the pilot’s success. Brubaker also noted a common hurdle to launching such a pro- gram is getting commu- nities to make the initial investment. “It’s hard to convince people of money they’re going to not spend,” he said. Identifying spending around areas where law enforcement is dealing with non-criminal ac- tivity is a good start, he said, as well as noting the high-frequency uti- lizers of emergency de- partments. In addition to the cost savings, Brubaker feels the model simply makes ethical sense. “Ultimately, we real- ly do believe that cli- ent-centered, human- istic, trauma-informed kind of care response model is better for the individual being served,” he said. “It’s the right people going to the right calls.” Community Outreach While CGPD explores the possibility of a new crisis intervention re- sponse model, it is also working on outreach to certain demographics of Cottage Grove’s minori- ty communities. Since the killing of George Floyd, a Black man in Minneapolis, Minn., by police offi- cer Derek Chauvin, the national outcry against police violence has been marked by concerns and anger over racial discrimination. With the CGPD, Shepherd does not see race as playing into the department’s deci- sion-making process. “We don’t look at someone for the color of their skin,” he said. “We look at their behavior.” The department’s pol- icy manual includes a passage specifically tar- geting discrimination, oppression and favorit- ism: “Discriminating against, oppressing or providing favoritism to any person because of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual ori- entation, gender iden- tity or expression, na- tional origin, ancestry, marital status, physi- cal or mental disabil- ity, medical condition or other classification protected by law, or in- tentionally denying or impeding another in the exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power or immunity, knowing the conduct is unlawful,” it states. The U.S. Census Bu- reau reports Cottage Grove’s Black or Afri- can Americans as mak- ing up 1.3 percent of the city’s population while Hispanic or Lati- no residents represent 10.8 percent, making the latter demographic a key part of the police department’s outreach efforts. With two Spanish speakers on the force, the department has tried to use those skills to its advantage. “It has allowed us to interact and be more effective in our commu- nication, both during investigations and also just casual contacts,” said Shepherd. Cottage Grove is also home to a significant Guatemalan population which speaks Mam, a Mayan language which is distinct from Span- ish and often requires a special interpreter to communicate with the English-speaking world. “We’ve been in con- tact occasionally with the spiritual leaders of those groups — the priests or pastors of some of the areas where they congregate,” said Shepherd. Though population numbers are hard to come by, Shepherd esti- mated there to be about 250 Mam speakers in the community as of a few years ago, though that number is likely to have grown. The department has tried to maintain an open dialogue by reach- ing out to the few com- munity members who have access to the pop- ulation. “We’ve made our ser- vices and willingness to meet with those groups readily known,” said Shepherd, referring to the general Span- ish-speaking populace as well. “But we’re being sensitive to their reluc- tance to interact with law enforcement.” CGPD had also been looking into prepping first graders and kin- dergartners with sim- ple emergency skills using Spanish speakers before the coronavirus outbreak closed down schools. Shepherd acknowl- edges that, despite some progress, there is still a trust issue to overcome. “It’s a little bit of a dance,” he said. “We’re at the point where we will try to do anything for anybody in that community to do more outreach, but we don’t want to push ourselves on them because we don’t want to be too di- rect or overbearing.” In establishing that trust, Shepherd hopes to communicate the de- partment’s commitment to equal and fair treat- ment for all residents. “The simple message is, if you don’t commit a crime, there’s nothing else we want to do with you other than serve you,” he said. Blazing Fast Internet! ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY 19 . 99 $ /mo. where available 2-YEAR TV PRICE GUARANTEE America’s Top 120 Package MO. 190 CHANNELS Including Local Channels! CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100 for 12 Mos. 1-866-373-9175 Offer ends 7/15/20. All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification. Your Party goes HERE! Birthdays Anniversaries Wedding showers Memorials Baby showers And so much more... 2915 Row River ver Rd. cottageevents.com ts.com m 541-942-6888 8 TURNING 65 AND NEED HELP WITH YOUR MEDICARE CHOICES? Call Paul to help simplify the complicated. 541-517-7362 Paul Henrichs ~ Independent Agent coverage4oregon@gmail.com Schedule your screening today. Call 541.225.4997 or visit NovaCovidTest.com Heraej=bbkn`]^haHqtqnu We know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two. #SeenItCoveredIt. Jim Goodling - Mike Grant 330 OR-99 Suite C • Cottage Grove, OR 97424 541-942-0165 GROVE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT “B UILDING A H EALTHY C OMMUNITY ” Y OUR L OCAL P ROVIDER OF H OME M EDICAL E QUIPMENT ! Sales & Rentals, Insurance Billing, CPAP/BIPAP, Home Oxygen, Mobility, Walk Aids, Bath Aides, Power Chairs, Power Scooters, Aids to Daily Living. Friendly & Knowledgeable Staff 1 Gateway Blvd (Bi Mart Plaza) 14 za) 148 Cottage C o Grove, OR 97424 4 541-225-5443 43 4 3 grovemedical@outlook.com Join us on Facebook Assisted Living and Memory Care Apartments Our beautiful community is designed for those who need assistance or have memory impairments. You can be assured that you or your loved one will receive the best in care along with compassionate personal attention from our well trained staff. Call or stop by for more information and a personal tour! We are available 7 days a week! 1500 Village Dr., Cottage Grove, OR 97424 T 541-767-0080 www.MiddlefieldOaks.com Dentistry is our profession, people are our focus. Birch Avenue Dental Dentistry is our profession, people are our focus. Birch Avenue Dental 1325 Birch Ave. 541-942-2471 • General Dentistry • Implants • Sedation • Financing 1325 Birch Ave. Cottage Grove birchavenuedental.com 541-942-2471 Tammy L. McClung DDS • Park W. McClung DDS
