6A — BAKER CITY HERALD
TRAINING
Continued from Page 1A
de Sully, who retired as
assistant chief of the Tigard
Police Department in 2016
after a 30-year career in law
enforcement, said he took
some time off in retirement
before changing direction and
hiring on at the academy.
“We take these trainings
very seriously,” he said. “We
try to teach the offi cers ... to
be critical thinkers, to treat
people with care and compas-
sion.
“The key is the ability to
recognize that there is a prob-
lem, to identify the problem
and to respond appropriately,”
de Sully said.
He was joined by other
trainers including Oregon
State Police offi cers Jason M.
Perrizo, who is assigned to
the special weapons/tactics
team at the training center in
Salem, and Gavin Mclvenna,
an OSP senior trooper. Gerod
Rayburn, fi rearms coordina-
tor at the police academy, also
traveled to Baker City for the
two days of training.
Baker City Police Sgt.
Wayne Chastain served as
an observer and coach for
offi cers. Lance Woodward,
who works as the Baker City
Police Department’s school
resource offi cer during the
school year, coordinated with
Baker High School staff to re-
cruit student volunteers from
the National Honor Society,
Future Business Leaders of
America and the drama club
to help with the exercise.
His daughter, Naomi Wood-
ward, a senior and member of
the National Honor Society,
was among those who volun-
teered.
The students, or their par-
ents for those younger than
18, were required to complete
paperwork acknowledging
“informed consent, accident
waiver and release of liabil-
ity” before taking part. The
form included information
abut the possibility of “emo-
tional trauma and physical
injury,” though volunteers
did not use weapons and
states they were portray-
ing while others writhed in
“pain” while crying out to the
offi cers.
Friday’s session was
repeated Saturday, with
both trainings taking place
at Brooklyn School, to allow
as many law enforcement
offi cers as possible to take
advantage of the classes
being offered closer to their
homes.
Ben Klecker, the Eastern
Oregon regional training co-
ordinator for DPSST, helped
organize the training in
Baker City. He was gone on
Saturday to attend a train-
ing of his own.
Baker County Undersher-
iff Jef Van Arsdall, a part-
time trainer at the academy,
was on hand Saturday as one
of the shooters.
Offi cers entered the build-
ing in pairs, trading off part-
ners for each scenario during
the afternoon session, which
followed a morning session of
classroom training.
S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
The offi cers entered the
A wounded student , Penelope Simmons, is quickly transported to a safe zone as
school not knowing in ad-
student Zach Wise follows behind. At left is BLM ranger Stephanie Cox.
vance what they might fi nd.
The next to last scenario in-
cluded a second shooter (Van
“Baker has really done
Arsdall), who was hiding in a
a good job of having
bathroom off the hallway.
the conversation and
The shooter came from
behind
offi cers who already
planning. But I would
were down the hallway
caution — don’t stop
ahead of him. He fi red his
planning, continue to
weapon multiple times as
review the plan. Plan and he progressed before police
fi nally stopped him.
be prepared for the worst”
In every scenario, offi cers
— Jim de Sully, regional
continued through the build-
training manager, Oregon
ing checking briefl y on the
Department of Public Safety victims to make a cursory
Standards and Training
S. John Collins / Baker City Herald
assessment of their injuries
Law enforcement offi cers, including Oregon State Police
before making their way to
trooper Tim Schuette, near right, and Baker County Sher- moving through a quiet,
the shooter.
iff's deputy Adam Robb, far right, apprehend one of two empty building — and this
“They are focused on
shooters during a scenario Friday.
— is night and day,” he said. getting to that point fi rst,”
For example, with hall-
de Sully said. “It’s not that
were not targeted by the ac- exercise area.
ways fi lled with victims lying we don’t want to help them.
tive shooters in the building.
Volunteers were instructed prostrate on the fl oor waiting The goal is to get the person
They were provided with
not to engage the aggressors for emergency responders,
stopped from hurting anyone
ear protection and safety
during the training. Their
police had to consider even
else.”
glasses and a safety offi cer
only options were to “evacu- where they could safely point
And once that goal was
cleared each person enter-
ate, run or hide.”
their weapons as they trav-
accomplished, paramedics
ing the building to ensure no
Their participation in the eled through the building.
were called to gather up
weapons, ammunition, tas-
training was invaluable,
And at times, the students
the victims to take them to
ers, knives, batons or chemi- Rayburn said.
sent offi cers in the wrong
the gymnasium, which was
cals were brought inside the
“The difference between
direction in the agitated
designated as the “casualty
FIRE
Kathy Aney/East Oregonian
The We Sell Stuff store continued to smolder on Monday
after a fi re gutted the Pendleton downtown business on
Sunday.
arrived moments later to
fi nd not only billowing smoke
but an individual hanging
from a second story window
next to the air conditioner.
“The fi rst arriving crew
put up a ladder and took him
out,” Penninger said.
He also said the person de-
clined medical help and took
off, and the person’s identity
remains a mystery.
Dixson had said no one
was in the building at the
time, but he learned about
the stranger from Penninger,
who also reported the Uma-
tilla County Sheriff’s Offi ce
received a complaint on Aug.
29 about people possibly liv-
ing in the building.
Dixson said the second
story had an apartment,
but he insisted no one lived
there. Yet, he also said he
had a night watchman on
duty.
Pendleton fi refi ghters,
Don’t text and
drive... you
won’t have to
come see us!
Continued from Page 1A
Umatilla County
tax records show the
building had an as-
sessed value of $97,980
and a real market value
of $204,590, and by all
appearances it is a total
loss. Shawn Penninger,
Pendleton fi re marshal
and assistant fi re chief,
said the Oregon State
Fire Marshal would
handle the investigation.
However, Craig Andre-
sen, the deputy state fi re
marshal in Pendleton, is
in Colorado for a confer-
ence on the cannabis
industry and fi re.
“Friday we’re sup-
posed to get together,
build a time line and look
at what evidence we
have,” Penninger said.
— Phil Wright, East
Oregonian
with the assistance of several
agencies, contained the blaze
to the one building, but the
effort continued well past
4 p.m. Penninger said that
was due to collapse of the
roof, which shielded hot spots
underneath.
Dennis’ niece, Candy Sturm, said he has hunted in
the area frequently, and has also done guided tours.
“He knows that area like the back of his hand,”
Sturm said.
The search started Sunday after relatives told police
that Dennis had failed to return from a hunting trip to
the East Eagle Creek area.
Searchers found his vehicle at the East Eagle trail-
head.
On Monday a pair of helicopters, one from the
National Guard and one from Baker Aircraft, ferried
searchers to the Crater Lake area, which is reached by
a steep 6-mile trail that starts near East Eagle Creek.
In a statement sent to the Herald, Dennis’ wife,
Patty, expressed her appreciation for “Sheriff Ash and
Chuck and Cid Christman for all they have done, they
are truly amazing.”
The Christmans are family friends who are also
participating in the search, Sturm said.
“The biggest message we would like to get out to the
public is how grateful we are for everybody who has
been searching by ground and air,” Sturm said. “We are
truly thankful for all the shares on social media, nearly
4,000 I think.”
Dennis was accompanied by a small Jack Russell
terrier.
In addition to members of the Baker County Sher-
iff’s Offi ce Search and Rescue squad, Union County
Search and Rescue members are involved, along with
Oregon State Police personnel.
Dennis is a white male, 5-foot-5 and 170 pounds,
with light brown hair, blue eyes, and a beard and
mustache. He was known to be wearing a camoufl age
baseball cap and possibly a tan coat.
Anyone with information about Dennis’ location
should call the Sheriff’s Offi ce at 541-523-6415.
N EWS OF R ECORD
DEATHS
2390 Broadway, Baker City
541-523-5223
collection point.”
As each scenario pro-
gressed, trainers coached
their students through their
responses, providing advice
on how to improve their
performance.
Law enforcement and fi re
department crews got a work-
out during the day as they
hustled their way through the
school’s long corridors. EMTs
and paramedics dragged
the student actors down the
hallways to the gymnasium
for each scenario.
Firefi ghter/EMT Cam-
eron Kiyokawa with the
Baker City Fire Department,
showed his dedication to the
training by choosing to carry
one victim, drama student
Jordan Remien, a BHS senior,
over his shoulder down the
hallway to the gym. Kiyo-
kawa said he found carrying
Jordan a more effi cient way of
moving him.
As the afternoon pro-
gressed, the offi cers earned
high praise from their train-
ers.
“That was well done,” Ray-
burn told the class. “You were
effi cient in your movements
and communication was
there establishing command.
“If that wasn’t a home run,
that was a strong triple,” he
told the group after one sce-
nario had been completed. “I
don’t know what could have
gone any better.”
Communication and coordi-
nation is vital in responding
to active threats, Rayburn
said. Just six offi cers partici-
pated in Saturday’s training,
which could be the actual
number of law enforcement
responding during an actual
threat because of the limited
resources in Eastern Oregon,
he said.
de Sully complimented the
work Baker County has done
to prepare for an active threat
in the community.
“Baker has really done a
good job of having the conver-
sation and planning,” he said.
“But I would caution — don’t
stop planning, continue to
review the plan. Plan and be
prepared for the worst.”
SEARCH
Investigation on
hold until Friday
Continued from Page 3A
Stewart said he’s still wait-
ing to hear more information
from local authorities to see
how the fi re will affect his
business going forward.
“This too will pass,” he
said. “It won’t just pass
today.”
The scene looked much
more uncertain Sunday,
when We Sell Stuff was
engulfed in fl ames.
Store owner Greg Dixson
opened We Sell Stuff in 2015
at 342 S.W. First St. On
Sunday, he watched from the
corner of Southwest First
and Emigrant Avenue as
black smoke billowed from
the building and fi refi ghters
attacked the blaze.
Pendleton Assistant Fire
Chief Shawn Penninger
said a 911 caller at 1 p.m.
reported seeing smoke drift
out of the building. Pendleton
Fire and Ambulance Services
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019
LOCAL & STATE
Scott Hensel: 63, of Hun-
tington, died Sept. 27, 2019, at his
home. Arrangements are under
the direction of Gray’s West &
Co. Pioneer Chapel. To light a
candle in memory of Scott, or to
leave a condolence for his fam-
ily, go to www.grayswestco.com
Darrell Kessler: 88, of Baker
City, died Sept. 29, 2019, at Set-
tler’s Park Assisted Living Com-
munity. Coles Tribute Center is in
charge of arrangements. To light
a candle in memory of Darrell
or to leave a condolence for the
family, go to www.colestribute
center.com
Norma Simmons Giles:
93, of Baker City, died Sept. 30,
2019, at Meadowbrook Place. Her
funeral will be Monday, Oct. 7
at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2625
Hughes Lane, with interment to
follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be
made to the LDS Humanitarian
Aid Fund through Coles Tribute
Center, 1950 Place St., Baker City,
OR 97814. To light a candle in
memory of Norma, or to leave a
condolence for the family, go to
www.colestributecenter.com
POLICE LOG
Baker City Police
Arrests, citations
THEFT OF LOST/MISLAID
PROPERTY: Jacob Anthony Gal-
van, 40, 1430 Third St., Haines,
8:13 p.m. Tuesday in the 1500
block of Campbell Street; cited
and released.
PROBATION VIOLATION (two
counts) and THIRD-DEGREE
THEFT: Brandi Marie Kasinger,
30, of 2617 12th St., 2:35 p.m.
Monday, in the 1200 block of
Campbell Street; jailed.
Baker County Sheriff’s
Offi ce
PROBATION VIOLATION and
FAILURE TO APPEAR (Baker
County Justice Court warrants):
Coryjoe Christopher Snyder, 37,
address unknown, 11:40 a.m.
Monday, at the Sheriff’s Offi ce;
jailed.