FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Commission approves staff increases
Sheriff’s Department and finance to get new positions
By David Sykes
The Morrow County
Commission decided at
its March 28 meeting to
approve adding new staff
to the sheriff’s department
and the finance office. If
approved by the budget
committee the sheriff will
receive a new patrol person
and a new investigator. The
finance office is approved
for a new full-time staff
accountant. At the same
meeting the commission
turned down a request from
planning to increase their
staff by one half position.
According to Finance
Director Kate Knop, the
new accountant will be a
full-time position responsi-
ble for assistance in general
ledger maintenance, grants
and contracts compliance
as well as budgeting and
other duties. The position
will cost the county an addi-
tional $87,433 per year in-
cluding salary and benefits.
The department currently
has three full-time em-
ployees with a total annual
payroll and benefit budget
of $314,259.
Knop pointed out that
the finance department had
not grown “in more than
20 years”, and that the
new position will be of
benefit to county citizens
by providing “additional
support in safeguarding
assets, providing reliable
information and complying
with all applicable con-
straints.” The commission
voted unanimously to move
the recommendation to the
county budget committee
which starts deliberations
soon on the 2018-19 county
fiscal year budget.
In other action the com-
mission voted to recom-
mend two new positions, a
patrol deputy and an inves-
tigator, to the budget com-
mittee for approval. Both
Sheriff Ken Matlack and
Undersheriff John Bowles
were at the meeting to ex-
plain the current police cov-
erage in the county, and the
need for new employees.
The sheriff had asked for
two patrol deputies and an
investigator.
Matlack said with the
current department staffing
there are “holes” in the po-
lice coverage in the county,
and that more people were
needed to provide 24-hour
police coverage throughout
the county. Bowles said
with vacations, sick leave,
court time and investiga-
tions, there were not enough
deputies on staff to provide
24-hour coverage across
the county. It was pointed
out at this time there is no
regular patrol on county
roads in the south end of the
county (outside of the city
of Heppner, which contracts
with the county for police
coverage) and deputies
only respond to these areas
when called. The sheriff’s
department currently has
35 full-time and three part-
time employees. No cost
figures for the additional or
current staff were provided
at the meeting, however
those figures are available
in the county budget.
The commissioners at
first voted in favor of two
new patrol deputies with
the understanding it would
then be possible to have 24-
hour coverage in the county.
However, after approving
the two new patrol depu-
ties, a separate discussion
was held on hiring a new
investigator. At this time,
it was revealed there was a
misunderstanding between
the sheriff and the commis-
sioners, and that hiring just
the two deputies without
also hiring a new investi-
Sheriff’s Report
The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information:
February 5: Mor- deputy.
-MCSO received a re- School, Spring St, Ione
row County Sheriff’s Of-
fice received a report at port on NW Jones St, Hep- regarding tampering with
Sage Brush Apartments on pner regarding children not a witness.
-MCSO received a re-
Boardman Ave NW, Board- attending school.
port
of suicidal thoughts
-MCSO received a re-
man that there are subjects
from
an
individual at Mead-
fighting in apartment six, port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
ow
Brook
Rd, Lexington.
ongoing issue. Complaint gon regarding children not
MCSO
made
contact with
attending school.
was unfounded.
individual.
-MCSO received a re-
-MCSO received a 911
-MCSO received a ju-
hang-up call at Bella Vista port on Ione Gooseberry
venile
complaint at Irrigon
Estates on Paul Smith Rd, Rd, Ione that two dogs
Elementary
School on SE
Boardman. Called back, running around, would like
Wyoming
Ave,
Irrigon.
female said everything was owners advised to keep
-MCSO
received
a re-
fine and didn’t need police. their dogs in.
port
at
Green
Acres
on
-MCSO received a re-
Received additional call,
Paterson
Ferry
Rd,
Irrigon
female said it was her hus- quest for extra patrol on SE
band calling and he was Utah Ave, Irrigon. Someone that her vehicle was stolen
intoxicated. Luis Medel recently broke into her ve- sometime last night and she
Rodriguez was arrested by hicles during the night and heard it got into a motor
vehicle accident.
BPD for Assault IV, lodged took her stereo system.
-MCSO received a re-
at UCJ, bail $10,000.
February 6: Morrow
port
at NE Elder St/NE
-MCSO received a re- County Sheriff ’s Office
Aiken
St, Heppner that
port at Irrigon Justice Court received a report on I 84
two
dogs
are loose running
that someone stole UPS box E, Boardman that a dark
around.
Unable
to locate.
out in front of ISA. Advised colored Honda is swerving
-MCSO
received
a re-
there is a bunch of gravel in and out of the road. Re-
port
on
SE
Eighth
St,
Ir-
around where it was taken. ferred to other agency.
rigon
that
subject
is
hitting
-MCSO received a dog
-MCSO received a re-
complaint at SE Wyoming port on I 84 W, Pendleton, and RP wants subject out of
Ave/S First St, Irrigon. that westbound around the the house. Jason James Ab-
Warning.
241they hit an animal, car bot was arrested by MCSO
-MCSO received a re- airbags deployed, no injury. for Violation of a No Con-
tact Order. Lodged at UCJ,
port on E Oregon Ln, Ir- Referred to other agency.
rigon that dogs are coming
-MCSO received a re- no bail.
-MCSO received a re-
on to their property, today port of a motor vehicle ac-
port
on SW Second St, Ir-
tipped over their garbage. cident at AC Houghton on
rigon
that she just had two
RP has pictures of the dogs. NE Main Ave, Irrigon. 43
red
vehicles
racing from
-MCSO received a re- year old female had a head
Wyoming
to
Nevada.
Un-
port on I 84 E, Boardman and neck injury.
able
to
locate.
that on both lanes under the
-MCSO received a ju-
-MCSO received a
over pass there is a large venile complaint at Irrigon
report
at Mountain Glen
amount of rocks.
Elementary School, SE
Apartments
9-16 on NE
-MCSO received a re- Wyoming Ave, Irrigon.
Pioneer
Dr,
Heppner
that
port on SE Eighth St, Ir-
-MCSO received a ju-
subject
is
at
her
residence.
rigon of a dispute and RP venile complaint at Ione
Skyler Lee Kendrick was ar-
would like to speak to a
rested by MCSO on UCSO
P&P detainer. Lodged at
UCJ with no bail.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Ir-
rigon that a blue Mercury
flew down his street to-
wards Tenth. Advised he
lives off of Thirteenth on
the dead end. Unable to
locate.
-MCSO received a
driving complaint on Toms
Camp Rd, Boardman. Pab-
lo Madrigal Garcia was
warned for illegal use of
truck brakes.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
gon that a blue Ford Taurus
was traveling at a high rate
of speed on Utah.
-MCSO received a re-
port on NE Second St,
NOW
HIRING
DRIVERS
Irrigon that bull dogs at a
house near this location
got out and attacked his
dogs. Advised that his dog
was bleeding and has some
puncture wounds.
-MCSO received a
report at Love’s Travel
Stop and Country Store on
Tower Rd, Boardman that
he bumped into another
vehicle.
-MCSO received a re-
port that RP lost his license
plate for his truck some-
where off the interstate,
Tower Rd or Threemile Rd.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Irrigon Shell station,
E Hwy 730, Irrigon that
they would like subject
trespassed from the loca-
tion. Kayla Connell was
trespassed from Irrigon
Shell by MCSO.
February 7: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report at Love’s
Truck Stop and Country
Store on Tower Rd, Board-
man that a person went
through the drive-through,
believes they are intoxi-
cated and driving. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port on E May St, Hep-
pner that RP found subject
intoxicated and driving her
scooter in the middle of the
road. Advised he dropped
her off at this house.
-MCSO received a re-
port that Thor A Blanchard
was arrested by Deschutes
Co SO on IJC warrant.
Subject cited and released
to appear.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Irrigon Justice Court
that RP believes someone
shot out his window while
he was driving.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
gon that white Dodge Dart
just spun its tires at the stop
sign on Seventh and then
sped down Utah, two male
occupants.
-MCSO received a re-
port about a dog complaint
on Summit Ln, Boardman.
Deputy spoke to owner
about dog being at large.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Thomas Ave,
Irrigon that the residence on
Thomas has been vacant for
a while and he noticed one
gator would not be enough
people to provide 24-hour
coverage. The commis-
sion at that time rescinded
its original motion on the
two deputies, and instead
voted 2-1 to hire one deputy
and one investigator. The
additional staff will still
leave some periods when
the county has no cover-
age, but not as much the
commission was told. The
sheriff said the investiga-
tor was needed because at
this time deputies are being
pulled off patrol in order to
do follow up work on cur-
rent cases and arrests. The
investigator will take over
these duties and allow more
time for patrol.
In other action the com-
mission denied a request
from the planning depart-
ment to expand a half-time
position in that office from
half time to full time, and
also denied a request from
the district attorney’s office
to hire an investigator there.
In other compensation
action a three-percent cost
of living increase (COLA)
for county elected offi-
cials was approved for the
coming fiscal year. County
commissioners currently
make $39,564 per year, as-
sessor, $80,631, treasurer,
justice of the peace and
clerk, $70,529, and sheriff,
$101,081. An increase to
$75,000 per year for the
justice of the peace, but no
COLA, was approved for
the coming 2018 -19 fiscal
year. The county compensa-
tion committee had earlier
recommended a salary in-
crease to $51,000 for the
county commissioners, but
that recommendation was
not followed, and the com-
missioners only received a
three-percent cost of living
increase for the coming fis-
cal year.
of the doors was kicked in.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Gilmore St,
Heppner that a brow and
white collie mix is at her
residence.
-MCSO received a
report on SE Hager St,
Heppner that a black and
white collie just attacked
her chickens.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Wilson Ln, Board-
man that subject is at his
residence and just assaulted
him.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Irrigon Motors on
SW California Ave, Irrigon
that his gray 1986 Ford
F250 pickup was taken
from storage within the last
month or so.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Paterson Ferry Rd,
Irrigon that her foster child
is out of control. RP ad-
vises he is attempting to get
into the other foster child’s
room.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Irrigon Shell station,
E Hwy 730, Irrigon that
Joseph William Johnson
was arrested by MCSO on
UCSO warrants. Lodged at
UCJ, no bail.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Washington Ln, Ir-
rigon that he found a bike in
the bushes by his residence
and wanted to report it.
February 8: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report on Colum-
bia Ave NW, Boardman that
step son is breaking things
in his house.
-MCSO received a re-
port on W Idaho Ave, Ir-
rigon that his 7-month old
blue nose pit is missing.
Dog is very friendly.
-MCSO received a re-
port on E East St, Lex-
ington that the horses that
are pastured there have no
water. The trough has not
been filled since Sunday.
Deputy made contact with
the owners and they advised
they will fill the trough
tomorrow.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Washington Ln/W
Eighth St, Irrigon that there
are cows out near this loca-
tion. Complete, cows were
put back in their pasture.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Ir-
rigon that a charcoal gray
Nissan Exterra has been
traveling at a high rate of
speed on Utah towards Ida-
ho for the past few nights
around this time. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Ir-
rigon that red Ford Focus
flew through heading to-
wards Tenth.
February 9: Morrow
County Sheriff ’s Office
received a report at Board-
man Fire Hall on Wilson Rd
SW, Boardman that subject
is walking by the fire station
and there are a lot of people
following him. Unable to
locate.
-MCSO received a re-
quest for agency assist at
I 84 E, Boardman. OSP
has subject failing to yield.
Subject yielded at the 162.
-MCSO received a re-
port at NE Washington
Ave/NE First St, Irrigon
that there is a male cutting
down trees with a chain saw
in the area.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Miller Rd/Kunze
Ln, Boardman that there are
cows out on the very east
end of Kunze.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Castle Rock Apart-
ments on Tatone St, Board-
man that son is threatening
to harm RP and her daugh-
ter. Subject is 21 years old,
he threatened to kill them.
Jose Javier Ruiz Gomez
was arrested by Boardman
PD on charges of harass-
ment and menacing, lodged
at UCJ with bail of $22,500.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Irrigon Shell Sta-
tion on E Hwy 730, Irrigon
that a male came into the
store and stole a bunch of
product. Took $10 worth
of candy, put it in his pants
and up his sleeve.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Elks Club on N Main
St, Heppner that subject just
assaulted his son.
-MCSO received a re-
port at SW Nevada Ave/
NW Third St, Irrigon that
female in a black Alantra
hit a mail box.
-Continued on PAGE EIGHT