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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2002)
Page 20 The INDEPENDENT, October 17, 2002 Letters to the Editor From page 15 schools open, our prison doors locked and our elderly and dis abled safe and cared for. That will be our opportunity to decide what kind of Oregon we want. In the meantime, on behalf of River side, I want to publicly thank Representative Johnson and Senator Dukes for their leader ship and hard work in the session just ended. Sincerely, Al Soenneker Warren County needs Yes vote on Sheriff’s levy To the Editor: Did you know that we have fewer sheriff patrol deputies on the road now than we did 20 years ago? If 9-11 showed us anything, it is that we need to ad equately staff our local law en forcement. Our safety depends on it. The calls to the Sheriff’s Office have nearly doubled in just the last five years to about 15,000 a year or 40 a day. Population has increased 21% in 12 years. Yet we still have fewer deputies to answer calls than we did 20 years ago. In 1983-84, the Board on Po lice Standards and Training said that Columbia County should have 24-26 deputies. In 2002, we have less than half of that. Only five are patrol deputies. Deputies answer calls for help, both emergency and non emergency, to the Sheriff’s Of fice. These include everything from murder to child abuse to do mestic violence to burglary. Patrol deputies almost always work alone covering the county’s 657 miles from Scappoose to Westport to Vernonia with mini mal backup. The impending cuts in Oregon State Patrol troopers in Columbia County will only make this situa tion more critical. Twenty years ago, Columbia County had 13 troopers. We now have seven. In January, we will likely only have four. Our deputies work hard trying to keep us safe, but it’s pretty darn hard to do when they can hardly get any time off because they are so short staffed. The Sheriff’s Office is asking for a very small tax increase. The average homeowner will pay only $7.75 a month. This very small tax increase will make us safer. Please vote yes on Measure 5-109. Sincerely, Tony Weaver Columbia City Deputies must work too many hours To the Editor: I’m a Columbia County Sher iff’s Deputy. Being one of only five patrol deputies covering the county’s 657 square miles is challenging. The days are long, the nights are longer. Our department is so short staffed that if I’m not on duty, I’m on call - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And, sometimes, I’m called a lot. During one recent 3-1/2 day period, I worked over fifty hours. I started at 6:00 p.m., got off at 2:00 a.m., was called back at 3:04 a.m. and got off at 7:00 a.m. I answered seven calls, including looking for and finding a child molester with 12 counts against him. After a few hours of sleep, I went back in at 6:00 p.m. and an swered eight calls. Four minutes before my shift ended, I respond ed to a call - stolen car, assault, criminal trespass, unlawful entry, criminal mischief. There were five suspects. I was alone. I got off at 3:30 a.m. I reported to duty at 6:00 p.m. and worked until 4:08 a.m. After a ten-hour shift, I headed home. On my way home, I was called back at 4:39 a.m. A male suspect shot five rounds at a female. We got a search warrant and finished the call at 3:30 p.m. A 21-1/2 hour day. The following day, I started at 12:08 p.m. and ended my shift at 2:00 a.m. the next day. I re sponded to 11 calls, including a 10-person fight in Clatskanie and a domestic abuse call in Scap poose. I did manage to get one day off during the week. I wish I could tell you this was unusual, but it’s not. It’s like this almost all the time. I’m not com plaining about the working condi tions. I knew it might be like this going in. It’s about public safety - yours and ours. We need Measure 5- 109 to serve you and keep you safe. Please vote yes. Sincerely, Richard “Mort” Frazier Columbia City PUBLIC NOTICE N O TIC E O F C O U N C IL W O R K S H O P The Vernonia City Council, in conjunction with the Vernonia Parks Committee will be holding a workshop regarding Parks use policies and fees on Monday, October 21, 2002, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Cham bers at City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street, Ver nonia, OR 97064. The public is welcome to attend the work shop; however, public comment will not be accepted during the workshop. The meeting location is accessible to per sons with disabilities. A request for an inter preter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabili ties should be made at least 48 hours prior to public hearing to Janelle De Laittre, at least 48 hours prior to workshop at 503- 429-5291, TTY 1-800-735-2900 or City Hall, 1001 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR. The City of Vernonia is an Equal Opportu nity Provider and Employer Robyn Bassett Director of Public Works Publish October 17,2002 FOR SAFE COMMUNITIES 0 24-Hour Patrol Coverage 0 Securely Staffed Jail 0 Homeland Security Training 0 Resident Deputy in Vernonia It will cost the average homeowner only $ 7 .7 5 a moirth-a small price to pay fo r public safety! Please join Sheriff Phil Derby, former Sheriff Bruce Oester, and your Vernonia neighbors: Gene & Teri Baska Ray, Shelley & William Cota Brian Outright Pat & Brenda Dean Jim Gaskins Tony & Dana Hyde Claudia Johnson Dolly & Leslie Keenon Fred Oviatt Steven Poetter Stephen Roberts Frazier Rohm Andy Roy Tony & Ethel Weaver Donald Webb Stephen Weller Darrell Wolfe Joseph & Agnes Wuest Jim Walters VOTE YES ON MEASURE 5 -1 0 9 Five Year Local Option Levy for Law Enforcement Authorized by the Community Safety Committee, 29993 Maple Drive, Rainier, OR 97048 • 503-556-0939
