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MCSO eNewsletter
and Public Safety Agency
OCTOBER 2009 |
Support Group Sweetens Mail for MCSO's Deployed Members
Kim Staton, Sheriff Skipper, Undersheriff Slyter, Ilona Skipper, Jennifer Reiser, Barb Slyter, Hannah and Emma Reiser, Madison Staton
Last week Support Group volunteers put together "appreciation boxes" for Sheriff's Office members currently deployed in the military. The boxes included several pairs of socks, candy, an MCSO commemorative pin, toiletries, a camera, and beef jerky among other items that will offer a little piece of home and show our appreciation for their hard work. We are proud of the men and women in our agency who are defending our country overseas. Thank you to the Support Group for your time and care.
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TRAFFIC SAFETY CORNER
Sgt Mark Matushima As summer slips away and fall is upon us, here are some traffic related safety thoughts for the new season. VEHICLE MAINTENANCE The change of seasons is a good time to conduct a regular vehicle maintenance check. This becomes even more critical for safe driving as we head into the rainy season and look forward to winter on the near horizon:
- Check windshield wipers
- Check all fluid levels including oil and windshield washer fluid
- Check tires and tire pressures
- Check headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and marker lights
- Check your vehicle manufacturer's maintenance schedules
- Think ahead towards your winter driving needs (i.e. winterizing your vehicle systems, tire chains/winter tires, stocking up on winter travel supplies).
HALLOWEEN - HARVEST FESTIVALS
As trick or treating gets underway or when communities hold neighborhood harvest festivals, we all need to beware of little ghosts and goblins for more than the usual scary reasons!
DRIVERS
If you find yourself needing to drive through the neighborhoods during these times, keep in mind that the children participating in these events are to say the least a bit distracted and not necessarily paying attention.
Add to this that some costumes will blend into the background and darkness; the mix makes for some very hazardous driving. A good rule of thumb is to drive with the same focus to attention that you would while driving through an active school zone. MOMS, DADS, AND LITTLE FOLKS Costumes: Bright colors, shiny fabrics, and costumes with reflective elements are the most visible. Regardless of the costume type, it should not block the wearer's vision or affect their ability to move freely. Accessories in the form of small flashlights, small strobe lights, or even flexible chemical glow sticks or jewelry should be taken or worn while out and about. Not only will it aid in drivers seeing the costume wearer, but also help you keep track of each other while in the dark. Plan Ahead: Have discussions days ahead of the event regarding behaviors (please-thank you), expectations (stay close, don't run, don't go into the street without an adult, etc), safety (don't go into a house without permission, what to do if a stranger tries to get you to go with them, etc), and emergencies (what to do if you get separated, get hurt, etc). Reinforce this plan one last time just before heading out to the event. Wait to Indulge: Since 1970, there has been only one confirmed incident nationwide where a child became ill and later died due to an intentionally adulterated product. The crime was perpetrated by the child's father in an attempt for financial gain. Regardless, the potential threat is out there, plus, believe it or not, candy can go bad. A good rule to follow is that children (and adults) should not indulge in their goodies until packaging can be inspected to insure that it is intact and has no unusual alterations. Once packaging has been opened, keep alert for any unusual discolorations on the candy or unusual odors. Any products that appear to have been adulterated or altered should be set aside and reported to your local law enforcement. Spoiled candy should be reported to the manufacturer to alert them of a potential manufacturing problem. Also unfortunate is a general recommendation to not consume any homemade treats unless you know the person who made/handed them out. These revolve around potential sanitation and food allergy issues.
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Recycling in the Jails
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, dealing with municipal solid waste, what we usually call trash and/or garbage, requires a three-pronged attack. Makes sense-one can move quite a bit of trash and/or garbage with a three-pronged instrument-but the scope of what's needed in the workplace goes beyond the mere hand-tool. These three prongs involve source reduction, recycling and composting. Before we get into exactly what the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is doing to in the realm of sustainability and recycling, let's start with definitions, found at the EPA's Municipal Solid Waste Web page:
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Source Reduction: Altering the design, manufacture, or use of products and materials to reduce the amount and toxicity of what gets thrown away.
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Recycling: Sorting, collecting, and processing materials to manufacture and sell them as new products.
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Composting: Decomposing organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, with microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) to produce compost. Compost is organic material that can be used as a soil amendment or as a medium to grow plants.
At the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, sustainability and recycling represent much more than highly sought after buzz words in the realm of political correctness. Just ask Lt. Rachel Getman, Sustainability Liaison for the Sheriff's Office with the County Sustainability Program. While there has been some effort towards making areas of the jails sustainable for the last couple of years, Lt. Getman explains, "We are working towards making the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office more sustainable and getting the Sheriff's Office more involved, more in line with the County Commissioners' goals, aspirations and policies." To that end, our sustainability efforts focus on MCDC/MCIJ food services, mattress replacement and laundry facilities. These key Sheriff's waste generating activities are where the greatest recyclable opportunities exist to employ the three-pronged attack. Source Reduction at MCDC and MCIJ Between the two jails, employees used approximately 400,000 Styrofoam cups annually. To reduce that number significantly, employees now use their own mugs, a step in the right direction that reduces waste headed for landfills as well as saving $16,000 per year. Recycling at MCDC and MCIJ
MCSO refills reusable plastic containers with Griffith cleaning solution, which is then used in various Sheriff's Office facilities. In the single month of September, 2009, MCDC collected 7,980 pounds of co-mingled recyclables-metal, paper and plastic. During the same month, MCIJ collected 6,100 pounds. Another way the jails recycle involve cotton-filled inmate mattresses. In 2008, Multnomah County Jails went through 800 mattresses all ending up in a landfill. Because the cotton can now be cleaned, the mattresses are recycled by putting new covers on the cleaned cotton.
Composting at MCDC and MCIJ
The approximately 1 million meals served per year generate 100,000 pounds of coffee grounds, food preparation waste and food that comes back to the kitchens from dorms. At MCDC the composting is done by the ARAMARK employees who work in the kitchen. At MCIJ, Lt. Getman pointed out that inmates prepare food and are learning about composting firsthand. MCSO's Significant Six
As stated in the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Waste Prevention & Recycling Plan, the Sheriff's Office Waste Prevention and Recycling Team (Lt. Getman; Vanessa Scales, Property Storage Building; Linda Buck, Hassalo Warehouse; Deputy Kevin Fuller, Justice Center; Chris Payne, Hansen Building; Debbie Mueller RN; and Steve Wright, Multnomah Building) have " ... identified six activities that will significantly divert current solid waste and potential recyclables from the waste stream, helping to contribute to the county's 2010 goal that 65% of waste be recycled."
Reduction in the use of Styrofoam cups as well as reduction and recycling of plastic containers and mattress recycling are two of them. Increasing the impact of the composting at the jails is another. The last three involve making certain that all MCSO facilities have proper recycling collection receptacles and signage, including the proper receptacles for plastics where they exist; working with the Sheriff's Office Criminal Justice Information System Unit to ensure that used electronic equipment is diverted to recyclers, thus eliminating hazardous waste from landfills; and putting in place an education program that gives all staff the necessary tools to individually and collectively assist in our sustainability movement. For more information about sustainable practices in the jails, please visit our webpage.
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Move Over Presidents Day, Its Sheriff Skipper Day
On October 13th, 2009, Wood Village Mayor Fuller honored Sheriff Skipper for his exceptional service and dedication to the city of Wood Village and proclaimed Wednesday November 4th, 2009 Sheriff Skipper Day.
After announcing his retirement last month, letters, emails, phone calls and well-wishers poured into the Sheriff's Office to offer support and sentiments about Sheriff Bob Skipper. To say that he is well respected and loved by both his staff, friends and outside agencies alike, is an understatement. HERE is just a small sample of the letters that came in. We wish you the very best years to come and a long well-earned vacation. Thank you for all of your hard work. |
Donations Keep Pouring In
In our June newsletter we reported about MCSO participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Before the torch run MCSO collected donations through various activities like the Polar Plunge and the Tip-a-Cop events at Red Robbin. As of October 2009 we have raised $44,434.00 for Special Olympics Oregon!
Here are the top 10 agencies in Oregon.
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Portland Police Bureau $51,019.00
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Multnomah County Sheriff's Office $44,434.00
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Bend Police Department $27,323.00
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Deschutes County Sheriff's Office $27,128.00
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Port of Portland Police Department $21,656.00
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Clackamas County Sheriff's Office $14,674.00
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Lebanon Police Department $10,294.00
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Eugene Police Department $10,160.66
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Oregon Air National Guard $9,756.74
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Tigard Police Department $7,780.60
WAY TO GO EVERYONE! |
Share Our Tweets
We want the community to know that the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Warrant Strike Team has made their 1000th arrest since being created only two years ago.
This program has been tremendously successful in accomplishing its goals of reducing the number of outstanding warrants in Multnomah County and in providing justice to victims who seek closure to their cases and to hold offenders accountable before the courts.
In order to reach a greater number of community members and media, the Warrant Strike Team (WST) has begun to Twitter. What is Twitter you may ask? Twitter is a FREE networking tool that will allow the WST to send you and media up to the minute information about warrants served, dangerous suspects and, as a possible means to offer public rewards for information leading to the arrest of wanted suspects.
The Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer already Twitters about road closures, news briefs and links to further detailed acounts of events in and around Multnomah County.
If you are interested in receiving Tweets from the Warrant Strike Team click HERE and subscribe.
If you are interested in receiving Tweets from the MCSO Public Information Officer, click HERE and subscribe.
Its Free!
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Enjoying Safer State Parks
Lt. Jason Gates Deputy Shane Billups
Visitors to Oregon's beautiful State Parks want a clean, safe environment to enjoy with family and friends. This August and September Deputy Shane Billups staffed the new State Parks Detail contract. This position has proven to be essential for crime prevention and enforcement in the State Parks around Multnomah County.
Parking violations along East Columbia River Hwy has always been a problem for the State Parks. Vehicles along the highway increase hazards for the general public and provide an unsafe environment for people using the highway as well as park visitors. The Parks position has allowed the Sheriff's office to focus on this issue through citations and community policing in the Parks. In the months of August and September a total of 92 citations and 33 warnings were issued in State Parks with over 108 hours of patrol time logged.
In August and September 2009, alcoholic beverages in no-drinking zones also continued to be an issue in the Parks. Deputy Billups noticed that the problem areas were primarily around Lewis & Clark beach, Rooster Rock Clothing Optional Beach, Oxbow Park and Ainsworth State Park. MCSO presence in these areas was key for crime deterrence. To effectively reduce unwanted fighting, potential drownings and other crimes, it is our intention to increase patrol in these areas and increase Minor in Possession citations during the summer of 2010 as well.
Even with additional patrol, State Park parking lots continue to be hunting ground for theft. For the 2010 season a strategy using the park deputy in conjunction with Park Rangers, will potentially reduce this crime. One possible solution is for MCSO and State Parks personnel to develop volunteer help in patrolling the parking lots during peak visitor days and hours. Overall, the new 2009 State Parks Detail Position has shown to be a great success. The working relationship with the State Parks Division and MCSO has proven to be very efficient in communication and proactive policing that helps avert problems before they occur. We look forward to this working relationship in the summer of 2010. |
Bad Boys
But I Dont Want To Go Home!
Donald Watts was released from MCSO custody on September 24, 2009 but did not want to leave custody and needed to be escorted out of the building. According to reports, once he was outside, Mr. Watts allegedly grabbed a glass bottle out of the trash receptacle and threw it at one of the glass windows in front of the Justice Center. The window shattered but did not break apart. Mr. Watt left the scene but later headed back to the Justice Center to turn himself in. Maybe it was dinner time?
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Stats and Facts
Earlier this month, police in Puyallup, Washington arrested a suspect in at least 18 armed robberies of banks and check-cashing stores in Oregon and Washington. The "River Rat Bandit," so named because of holdups committed on both sides of the Columbia River, netted nearly $100,000 over the past 3 months. From 2004 to 2008, Portland Police responded to 330 reported bank robberies, averaging 66 per year. During the first six months of 2009 alone, there have already been 45 reported bank robberies in Portland. These do not include the River Rat Bandit's activities, which are believed to have started in August. In over 25% of these crimes, the robber had a handgun or an unknown type of gun. In 40% of these cases, there was an associated custody. According to 2007 statistics from the FBI, the average amount of cash taken during a bank heist (including robberies, burglaries, and larcenies) was just over $14,000 in cash with an additional $877 in items of value, such as traveler's checks. For both the FBI data and locally, the most common day for bank robberies was Friday. Banks have various security measures, such as cameras, heavy vault doors, silent alarms, exploding dye packs, bait money and locator devices and many banks utilize armed security guards. Accounts at all US banks are insured by the FDIC. Sentencing guidelines for bank robberies mandate long prison sentences. |
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly; recent news articles or updates you may have missed.
Jail inmate sues Multnomah County over alleged sexual abuse - Oregon Live
HAVE A SAVE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
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Your opinions, questions and concerns are important to us. If you would like to comment on any of MCSO service(s), or any article you have read in this newsletter please click HERE. Or Email us HERE |
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