The INDEPENDENT, January 21, 2010
Page 21
Letters
From Page 3
his hand on the back of the
head so hard that she blacked
out.” The victim also alleged
that Mr. Kay enlisted the coop-
eration of fellow officers to in-
timidate her throughout the liti-
gation process.
The federal district court
eventually dismissed the case,
“without prejudice,” against Mr.
Kay which meant that the victim
could re-file in a state court.
The victim filed an appeal. The
federal appeals court agreed
with the federal district court. I
assume that the federal court
felt that not all options were ex-
hausted against Mr. Kay in the
state court and, therefore, the
federal court lacked jurisdiction
over the matter. At no time did
the federal court indicate that
the allegations made by the vic-
tim were without merit. The vic-
tim never re-filed in the state
court. I’m guessing the reason
was a lack of funds, mental ex-
haustion, or there may have
been a settlement.
Did the victim just fabricate
these allegations? Were tens of
thousands of dollars and years
of litigation spent over a fanta-
sy? A few folks would probably
say “yes” to these questions
but most rational thinking indi-
viduals would agree that these
events probably did occur.
A complaint against Mr. Kay
had recently been filed with the
DPSST. The result of DPSST’s
findings was published in the
January 7, 2010, edition of The
Independent. However, be-
cause of the DPSST’s findings
Mr. Kay is still a public safety
officer in Vernonia and the vic-
tim still suffers as a result of the
abuse inflicted upon her.
Vernonia’s police Chief
Frank Grace “exonerated”
Mr.Kay as though it was busi-
ness as usual. Exonerating im-
plies that the event described
above did not occur. It appears
Mr. Grace may be adhering to
the “blue curtain” of police si-
lence in an attempt to protect a
fellow officer. If he is, then this
places a question mark on his
integrity and gives his credibili-
ty a black eye. It has been said
that Mr. Grace is a well respect-
ed instructor of police ethics,
who occasionally teaches
ethics at the DPSST academy.
If this is true then I must ques-
tion Mr. Grace’s ethics, espe-
cially when it involves domestic
violence. A person can spend
years learning about ethics and
still not be ethical in some ar-
eas. We see this every day;
lawyers, politicians, police
chiefs, etc. Trust and ethics go
hand-in-hand. We, as taxpay-
ers and members of the public,
shouldn’t tolerate a police chief
who can’t be trusted.
Domestic violence is a seri-
ous matter; a disease in our so-
ciety. Victims of domestic vio-
lence and anyone in support of
Jack and Ellen (Rothery) Hart-
man. The family moved to Sea-
side where he graduated from
high school in 1968. He earned
an associate degree from
Clackamas Community College
in Small Business Management
in 1990. He worked as a logger
for Crown Zellerbach until a
logging accident forced him out
of the woods. He worked as an
automotive mechanic until retir-
ing in 2002. With his son,
Shawn, he also owned and op-
erated Fester’s Automotive and
4X4 until 2002.
He was preceded in death
by his mother; a brother, Jack
Edward Hartman; and a sister,
Sharon McClean.
Survivors include his wife,
Teresa of Vernonia; two sons,
Shawn “Fester” and K.C., both
of Vernonia; and a brother,
John of Vernonia.
Fuiten, Rose and Hoyt Fu-
neral Home was in charge of
arrangements.
1934, in Hillsboro, to Lawrence
and Pauline M. (Stewart)
Davis. He was raised in Hills-
boro. He served in the U.S. Air
Force during the Korean War.
He was a truck driver.
He was preceded in death
by his wife, Dorothy; and a
brother, Gary.
Survivors
include
two
daughters, Tamie Davis and
Pamela Davis-Aucoin, both of
New Mexico; three siblings,
Jeannette Lightfoot of Hills-
boro, Roberta Bettis of Man-
ning, and Larry Davis of Sea-
side; his children’s mother, Val
Gutierrez of New Mexico; long-
time friend, Jacky Ray of Cres-
cent City, California; nieces and
nephews.
Remembrances are sug-
gested to Hospice.
Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral
Home was in charge of
arrangements.
waukie.
In 1945, she married
Clarence Ormsby. She contin-
ued to teach school until retir-
ing in 1983.
She was preceded in death
by her husband.
Survivors include a son,
Richard Ormsby of Happy Val-
ley; three daughters, Rosemary
Two-hey of Brush Prairie,
Washington, Marybeth Van Bu-
ren of Portland, and Alice Freid
of Woodinville, Wash.; and five
grandchildren.
Remembrances are sug-
gested to St. Agatha Catholic
Church in Portland.
these victims should boycott
any person, any business, or
any institution that appears to
condone domestic violence.
This would include any mem-
ber of the city council, the city
administrator, and the chief of
police.
Thank you, The Indepen-
dent, for printing my opinion.
Edward Johnson
Vernonia
Code 22 aids victims
of domestic violence
To the Editor:
Write in “Code 22” on Your
Oregon Tax Form: Columbia
County Women’s Resource
Please see page 22
Obituary
CHRIS BRUSMAN
Chris Brusman, 48, Long
Creek, died January 11, 2010.
A memorial service was held
January 17 at the Long Creek
Community Church.
Mr. Brusman was born July
12, 1961, in Missoula, Mon-
tana, to Mary Dill and Herb
Brusman. He was a logger.
Survivors include his wife,
Bobbie Sue; a son, Abe Wood-
ward; a daughter, Brandie Lu-
cas; his parents; two sisters,
Debby Hendrickson and Kim
Kell; and grandchildren.
Remembrances are sug-
gested to the family in care of
Fallon Logging Co., 7340 Be-
wely Creek Rd., Tillamook, OR
97141.
Sunnyside Little Chapel of
the Chimes was in charge of
arrangements.
DONALD H. “DON” HART-
MAN
Donald H. “Don” Hartman,
61, Vernonia, died December
25, 2009. Private interment has
been held.
Mr. Hartman was born Octo-
ber 23, 1948, in Oregon City, to
GREGORY STEVEN CULP
Gregory Steven Culp, 41,
Vernonia, died January 8,
2010.
Mr. Culp was born August
28, 1969, in Springfield.
Fuiten, Rose and Hoyt Fu-
neral Home was in charge of
arrangements.
KENNETH LEE “KEN” DAVIS
Kenneth Lee “Ken” Davis,
75, Hillsboro, died January 7,
2010. A private service was
held at Willamette National
Cemetery in Portland.
Mr. Davis was born June 15,
MARY JEAN ORMSBY
Mary Jean Ormsby, 93, Hap-
py Valley, died July 1, 2009. A
mass was held.
Mrs. Ormsby was born No-
vember 11, 1915, in Portland,
to Giovanni and Rosa Fossatti.
She graduated from Milwaukie
High School in 1934, then at-
tended Pacific University be-
fore transferring to the Oregon
Normal School (now Western
Oregon University) in Mon-
mouth and graduating in 1938
with a teaching degree. She
began her teaching career at
Washington Grade School in
Vernonia. After two years in
Vernonia, she taught in Mil-
THOMAS CHARLES RICE
Thomas Charles “Tom” Rice,
75, Forest Grove, died January
1, 2010. Funeral services were
held January 11 at the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints in Forest Grove. Dedica-
tion services were held at
Mountain View Cemetery in
Forest Grove.
Mr. Rice was born Septem-
ber 11, 1934, in Salt Lake City,
Utah, to Austin and Annie
(Steward) Rice, Sr. He was
raised in Farmington, Utah, un-
til the family moved to Vernonia
in 1947.
In 1957, he married Yvonne
Boyd. Their marriage was
sealed in the Salt Lake City
Temple for time and all eternity
on June 29, 1970. They made
their home in Forest Grove. He
served in the U.S. Army. He
owned and operated Rice Lum-
ber Co. for several years, start-
ing in 1959. He and his wife
owned and operated B&B Real
Estate in Forest Grove from
1970 until 2007.
He was preceded in death
by three sisters, Clara Serber,
Margaret Kouva, and Myrtle
Montgomery.
Survivors include his wife;
one son, Thomas D. of Idaho
Falls, Idaho; two daughters,
Barbara Beitelspack of Gaston,
and Melinda Tovey of Rose-
burg; a foster daughter,
Michele Thelin; seven siblings;
Glenn, Austin, Jr., Irvin, Lynn,
Lemuel, May Criswell, and
Hazel (Carol) Kent; nine grand-
children; one foster grandchild;
nieces and nephews.
Remembrances are sug-
gested to the Missionary Fund
in Care of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2nd
Ward, 2700 Leon Drive, Forest
Grove, OR 97116.
Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral
Home was in charge of
arrangements.