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MCSO eNewsletter
Your 24/7 Human Services
and Public Safety Agency
FEBRUARY 2010 |
January was a busy month but
will be nothing compared to the months to come.
Budget issues, addressing the Grand Jury report and the Charter Review
are just a few of the undertakings we face.
I know there has been some
concern regarding the recent publication of news articles which include Chair
Ted Wheeler's comments in relation to the direction of the Sheriff's Office. Some issues put forth by the Chair are the
discussion of an appointed versus elected Sheriff and placing the Jail system
under direction of the Chair and Board of the County Commissioners.
I do not believe that the
formation of a Multnomah County Department
of Corrections will produce tax savings in our Corrections Division. This change will create a new department in county
government, and yet another layer of reporting which was previously found to be
cumbersome and less than satisfactory when the Sheriff's Office was an
appointed position. The Office of
Sheriff should remain intact to include both the Law Enforcement and
Corrections Divisions. We have experienced staff who possess the required
skills, expertise and abilities to effectively and efficiently manage our corrections
facilities.
One way for members to
support the Sheriff's Office is to get the word out about the upcoming Public Safety
Budget Forum taking place Thursday, March 4, 2010, from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. in
the Multnomah Building Boardroom. This forum
will focus on county services provided by the Sheriff's Office.
I believe that effective communication
is the foundation to our success. Engaging
staff, community members and our commissioners is imperative and establishes the
foundation to intelligent problem solving and providing the highest level of
public safety for our community. I commend your hard work despite past and
anticipated budget reductions. I want to
take this opportunity to thank those of you who have offered cost saving ideas
and encourage all staff to provide any suggestions and ideas to your
supervisors. I am confident that the
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office will be a better place because of your
contributions.
Sheriff Daniel Staton
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Ed Stelle - Honored
for the Support and Inspiration he gives to us all.
On January 13th,
2010 in Cannon Beach, Oregon, Chaplain Ed Stelle was honored for his
dedication, not once, but twice, at the
International Conference of Police Chaplains. The
Northwest Region includes chaplains from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon,
Wyoming, and Washington. Through their work these dedicated professionals provide much needed spiritual services to their communities.
The first honor presented to Chaplain Ed Stelle was the National President's Award of
Merit, an award given to a chaplain for
providing excellent service to public safety personnel, people with emergency
medical needs, and their families.
The
second honor, created this year and given in Chaplain Stelle's name, is awarded to a Chaplain who has earned the honor of being an inspiration to others by providing guidance and support. Art Sphar from
Sumner, Washington is the first ever Ed Stelle Excellence of Chaplaincy Award
winner.
Born
and raised in Medford, Oregon, Ed Stelle became the Portland Police Chaplain in
1954. Chaplain Stelle was the first full-time Chaplain in the United States and
remained with Portland Police for 30 years.
In
1984, Chaplain Stelle joined the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office expecting to serve
a one-year term. That term turned into a twenty-six year career which
evolved into a variety of programs and the addition of four chaplains and numerous volunteers.
As
Chaplain Ed Stelle will tell you, "I have built my career on friendship and
understanding." It is the hope of The
International Conference of Police Chaplains that others follow the work of
Chaplain Ed Stelle by providing excellence in their own communities. For the
members of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, it is our honor to work
with him.
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MCSO 2009 Awards Nominations
MCSO is seeking nominations for
its time honored tradition, the 2009 Awards Ceremony. If you know anyone you would like to nominate for
an award, please view the qualifications HERE and fill out this FORM. The ceremony is open to the public and will be held Wednesday June 2, 2010.
More information to follow.
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Inmate Work Crews: A Win-Win Opportunity
for Nonprofits and the Community
Did you know that inmate work crews are available in Multnomah County to
assist nonprofits and other government agencies with litter and illegal
dumpsite cleanup, brush clearing, firewood chopping, light maintenance,
landscaping, laundry, and janitorial services? Work crews, under government
contract, have assisted agencies like Metro, the Oregon Zoo, ODOT, and the City
of Portland with routine cleanup projects enhancing the safety and livability
of our community. In addition, inmate work crews respond to natural disasters
by assisting with sandbagging during floods and clearing roads after
windstorms. The Multnomah County work crew program prepares inmates to
transition back into the community as law-abiding citizens while giving back--much
of the work done is provided free as a service to the community.
 Work crews are screened and supervised by a Sheriff's Office deputy
on-site and all inmates are clearly identified as Sheriff's Office inmates by
the clothing they wear. Road signs posted near the work site identify the work
crew as inmate staffed.
Questions? Contact Sgt. Tina Breiten
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Help! Our Sheriff is Under Arrest!
 The
Sheriff and CD Moore will be arrested on April 8th at 10:00am to
help raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy (Jerry's Kids). Help us get our Sheriff and Chief Deputy out of jail while helping a good cause.
For more information click HERE
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MCSO's Mental Health Multidisciplinary
Team
- written by Maureen Raczko
"Dear Counselor,
and Sheriffs, Lawyers, Judge, Doctors, Nurses, and others who were a help at
one of the turning points in my life. I believe in being a better person and
citizen, Love, Michael."
This thank you card was sent by a
former inmate who was booked in with nothing but the shirt on his back and
crippling paranoia and psychosis. He was
released with mental health care, intensive case management, and housing in
place. This is just one example of what is accomplished by the Multnomah County
Sheriff's Office (MCSO) Mental Health Multidisciplinary Team.
Mental Health Multidisciplinary
Team
MCSO's Mental Health Multidisciplinary Team is a group made up of corrections professionals, mental health practitioners,
and corrections counselors who meet twice a week to collaborate on the mentally
ill jail population with regard to treatment, care planning, housing, and
behavioral issues. This coordinated, planned approach addresses needs to assure
the safety and security of the facility and gives inmates the best chance for
success in a custody setting. Each team
member brings his or her own unique perspective and work together to
develop a common and consistent approach.
Some of the objectives of the
bi-weekly meetings include: staffing inmates with mental illness, suicidal and
homicidal inmates, and disciplinary or dangerous inmates. Staff also
coordinate with the judicial system to develop alternative sentencing plans
and to inform the courts of inmates who are too unstable to go through the
legal process and need to be evaluated and treated in a hospital. Staff initiate
the court proceedings for "aid and assist" motions and "treat until fit" orders
that facilitate moving inmates to the Oregon State Hospital. Often team members are asked
to provide an opinion in court regarding the mental status of an inmate. One of the most important tools used in the
jail is an inmate care/management plan. These plans provide all staff working
with this population simple and concrete information and continuity of
care for the inmates.
Inmate
Care/Management Plans
The inmate care/management plans are developed with input from corrections health staff, corrections counselors, classification, corrections deputies, sergeants and captains. The plans include background information, security considerations, inmate
incentives and communication techniques, and suggested goals for
assisting in successful management and transition of the inmate.
It is not uncommon to see the following
words on a care plan; "Assaultive, Self-Destructive Behaviors, Unpredictable, Smears
Feces, Refuses to Eat/Drink, Flooding cell."
These are just some of the difficult issues the team faces on a regular
basis. The collaborative approach utilized by the team encourages viable solutions.
A recent situation involved an
inmate (referred to as John for confidentiality purposes) who stopped taking
his psychiatric medication in the community, decompensated, and was booked,
high on heroin and a combination of several other drugs. He was delusional and combative. Staff put the John on detox protocol, got him back on his meds, and used cognitive-behavioral techniques to get John
back on track. The deputy in his mental health housing area gave John tasks and
chores that kept him busy and that he enjoyed. John improved quickly and his
counselor facilitated getting the young man back into the care of his
family.
Mental Health Services
Another important aspect of inmate
care is mental health services. Inmates in the mental
health units have access to medication and medical treatment, case management, one-on-one talk therapy and 20 different group counseling options. All inmates are evaluated by nurses, mental health counselors and
consultants on an ongoing basis. Some of the groups offered are: Dual Diagnosis Anonymous (DDA) a
support group for individuals suffering with mental health and substance
addiction issues, Anger Management, Mental Health and Meditation. This population
also has access to a mental health library with more then 200 titles of self-help
books, art supplies such as paper and colored pencils, and pro-social
activities and games (jigsaw puzzles, chess, cards, etc.).
Re-entry
Our staff provide individualized
and specialized re-entry planning and coordinates with other public service
agencies and community partners to increase positive offender outcomes and reduce
recidivism. Each inmate is assessed to identify his or her transition needs upon
release and develop a plan for housing, medication management, substance abuse
treatment, employment, counseling, and education. Transition services include
providing lists of community resources, coordinating with caseworkers or probation officers in the community, and providing a release plan that includes
ongoing access to medical providers, mental health treatment, and prescription
medications. By this collaboration, we
provide a continuum of care to support transition from jail to the community. There are many opportunities for growth in
this area in the future.
Opportunities
In conclusion, the main objective
of corrections is safety and security; however, incarceration often provides a
first official diagnosis and/or medication regiment after using illegal drugs
to self-medicate. It also gives staff
the opportunity to intervene and possibly improve lives by stabilizing those
with chronic mental illness, coordinating outside resources, and connecting
with community partners who can help meet the physical and emotional needs of
released inmates. In addition to reducing
recidivism, providing services to mentally ill inmates have the potential to improve the
quality of life for them, for their families, and the community as a
whole.
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Warrant Strike Team Updates
Performance Measures for Jaunary 2010
Warrant Service Attempts 132
Warrant Arrests 39
Non-Multnomah County Warrant Arrests 12
Warrants Served 43
Warrant Attempts and Arrests 171
Additional Information:
Don't forget to follow the MCSO Warrant Strike Team at http://twitter.com/MCSOWST for up to the minute arrest updates and details!
Strike
Team members were featured on KPTV Fox 12 while searching for Marcks, Douglas
(wanted for 20 counts of criminal mistreatment I). A viewer's tip eventually
led us to Vancouver, WA and the arrest of Marcks (with the assistance of the
Vancouver Career Criminal Apprehension Team).
KPTV link (story and video):
http://www.kptv.com/news/22343226/detail.html
http://www.kptv.com/video/22342625/index.html
Oregonian article:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/portland_man_arrested_on_20_co.html
Strike
Team members were featured on KPTV Fox 12 while searching for Mendoza-Nicholas,
Elizabeth (wanted for several charges ranging from ID theft to reckless
driving). We are still pursuing leads on this fugitive.
KPTV video link:
http://www.kptv.com/video/22308651/index.html
Strike
Team members arrested Gilbert, David in se Portland for charges of encouraging child
sex abuse I x10 and encouraging child sex abuse II x10. Gilbert's bail was set
at $250,000.
Strike
Team members assisted members of the Social Security Administration Office of
Inspector General (SSA OIG) in executing a search warrant for and arresting
Lewis, Daeshauna in se Portland.
Oregonian article:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/se_portland_woman_who_pretende.html
Strike Team members arrested Phil and Francine
DeWeese, Harvey Gaither and Claudine Steward who were involved in a five person
Medicare/food stamp fraud ring. The warrants were given to us by the Department
of Justice and we were able to arrest three of the fugitives in the first hour of
the assignment. Four out of the five fugitives were arrested within two days.
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Have you taken the OATH yet? Do it HERE.
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Traffic Safety Corner
Written by Lt Mark Matsushima
In honor of the shortest month of the year, let's take a
look at speed, speed violations, and some of the physics behind them.
SPEED LAWS
In Oregon, there are maximum speeds and posted speeds. Maximum speeds are those in effect whether
they are posted or not such as 20 mph in an alleyway or in an active school
zone. Posted speeds are speeds
designated by the responsible roadway authority for roads not governed by a
speed limit. These are based on factors
like roadway type, traffic flow, area conditions, and historical crash data.
Oregon operates under two separate theories of proof for the
offense of Violation of the Basic Rule.
The first way is to simply go faster than the posted or maximum
speed. The second is to travel at a
speed not "safe or prudent for the roadway or conditions." This means that if the roadway conditions are
such that even going the posted speed is not safe or prudent such as trying to
go 55 mph on an iced over highway.
HOW FAST IS FAST?
The term "miles per hour" tends be a bit abstract since a
mile is a long way and an hour is a long time.
An easier to envision depiction of what is truly going on is to convert
"miles per hour" into "feet per second."
The conversion is simply multiplying your speed in miles per
hour by 1.466.
For example, 25 mph does not seem all that fast until you
convert it 36.65 feet per second. For
every second you are traveling at 25 mph, you are covering 36.65 feet or in
other terms further than the 10 yards on a football field. In less than ten seconds at that speed, you
will have passed beyond goal line to goal line.
OTHER THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
Here are some other things to factor in to the equation:
The average adult has a 1.5 second
perception/reaction time to an unexpected event. In other words, if you are driving along and
see something suddenly appear in front of you, it will generally take you 1.5
seconds to perceive it as a danger then move to react to it. At 25 mph you will have gone about 55 feet in
this time.
There is a mathematical formula that can give us
a pretty good estimate of how far your vehicle will travel after the brakes are
applied to stop. On dry, level pavement,
with all brakes working properly, and with good tires, it will take you about
30 feet to come to a complete stop.
Add it all together and you end up with at best
a total of 85 feet traveled. In a
completely unlit environment this is about the maximum distance your headlights
on a regular setting illuminate ahead of you.
Let's take this to the next level and use the same constants
for a highway speed of 65 mph.
At 95.29 feet per second, you will travel about
344 feet from first perception to final stop under ideal conditions, or over
the length of an entire football field.
While this sounds like an impossible situation,
bear in mind that highways much wider than regular streets, are designed with
longer sight lines, and are well lit in heavily traveled or more hazardous
locations. These are all meant to
increase your ability to perceive and react at greater distances.
HOW CAN WE HELP OURSELVES OUT?
Drive at or near the posted speed or speed
limit. Over many years of experience and
statistical modeling, the standardized posted speeds and unposted speed limits
have proven to be the first best line of defense against speed related
crashes. If weather or visibility
conditions deteriorate, drive at a speed you are comfortable and in control
with, but not necessarily as fast as the posted one.
Drive defensively by anticipating hazards ahead
of time. In several studies, simply
being mentally prepared for the unexpected has the effect of shaving several
fractions of a second off of your perception/reaction time.
Fatigue, lowered light levels, alcohol, and
drugs, both prescription and illegal, can adversely affect your ability to
perceive and react. If you are not
feeling 100% toward your ability to drive at a given time, let someone else
do it.
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Outstanding Warrants
Have You Seen Me? If so, please do not confront me. Call the Warrant Strike Team at 503-251-2459 or email us directly
 Frank Lavelle Nacoste
Black male, 24 years old, 6'2" tall, 200 pounds
with brown eyes and black hair. A warrant has been issued by MCSO for robbery
II x2, and burglary. Nacoste has another warrant issued by the Oregon State
Parole Board for a parole violation (on parole for robbery). Bail is set at
$550,000 for the MCSO warrant and there is no bail for the parole violation.
Eric Lunneta
Hispanic male, 18 years old, 5'5" tall, 120
pounds with black hair and brown eyes. A warrant has been issued by MCSO for
assault II, assault III and riot. Bail is set at $260,000.
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January 7, 2010
Sheriff Daniel Staton
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
501 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite 350
Portland OR 97214
Dear Sheriff Staton,
The City of Portland Human Rights Commission wants to commend your office on the decision tocontinue to allow inmates in Multnomah County to send and receive mail.
Where so many other jurisdictions are restricting postal communications to postcards either now or in the near future, we believe that the ability to send and receive longer communications is an important human right that can assist communities and families in supporting individuals incarcerated in our jails.
We appreciate your efforts to allow fuller communication between inmates and the community. We hope that your leadership may change the course of restrictions on inmate mail in other Oregon counties as well - and that you address other issues in our jurisdiction with the same human rights lens.
Sincerely
Portland Human Rights Commissioners:
Abdul Majidi, Chair
Donita Fry, Vice Chair
Arwen Bird
Anastasia Godsey
Moloy K. Good
Emily G. Gottfried
Patricia A. Knoll
Rev. Héctor López
Donna D. Maxey
Everette L. Rice
Kathleen Saadat
Edmund Sherman
c.c./
Multnomah County Commissioners:
Ted Wheeler
Jeff Cogen
Deborah Kafoury
Diane McKeel
Judy Shiprack
City of Portland Commissioner Amanda Fritz
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The 2010 Census is Coming
written by Wendy Lin-Kelly
The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States and is required
by the Constitution to take place every 10 years. Information from the census is used in many
ways, including in determining federal funding for various community programs
and in determining the number of seats each state has in Congress.
In March 2010, census forms will be delivered, typically by the U.S. Postal
Service, to every residence in the United States and Puerto Rico. The form consists of 10 questions and can be
mailed back in the postage-paid envelope that is provided.
If you don't mail the form back, you will receive a visit from a census taker.
Any personal data collected as part of the census is protected under federal law. The census
does not ask for Social Security numbers.
All U.S. residents are included in the census, regardless of citizenship.
The census does not ask about legal
status.
All materials coming from the U.S. Census Bureau will be clearly identified
and designated as OFFICIAL BUSINESS of the United States. It is a federal offense for anyone to pretend
they represent the Census Bureau. Before your household receives a mailed form,
a phone call or a visit from the Census Bureau, you will be given a few days
notice with a letter from the Census Bureau Director.
All
census workers undergo an FBI name background check and fingerprinting to
ensure the 2010 Census is the safest census possible. Census workers must swear
that they will never disclose any personal information and penalties for any
employee who might share that information are severe: up to five years in
prison and a $250,000 fine. By law, the Census Bureau can't share your
information with anyone -- including other federal agencies and law enforcement.
How
can you tell the difference between a Census worker and a con artist?
- A census worker will only
knock on your door if you have not returned the form
- Census workers will have a
badge, hand held device, Census Bureau canvas bag, and confidentiality
notice
- You may always ask to see
the census worker's identification and badge
- A census worker will never
ask for your Social Security number, credit card number, or any banking
information
- The census bureau will not
contact you via email
It
is important to participate in the 2010 census and to feel safe while doing so.
Data
source: the Census Bureau, at www.census.gov
and the Better Business Bureau, at www.bbb.org
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Doing Our Part to Keep the Earth Green
 The MCSO Sustainability Liaison Team made a commitment to identify ways to reduce the significant amount of solid waste and potential recyclables introduced into the waste stream by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. One of the areas identified by the Sustainability Team was the use of styrofoam cups in the lunchrooms at MCIJ and MCDC.
On February 1, 2010, Multnomah County Inverness Jail will no longer provide styrofoam cups in the lunch rooms at MCIJ. This concerted effort is designed to reduce the amount of polystyrene material introduced into the landfill each year by MCSO.
MCDC/MCIJ food services and staff lunch rooms have been identified as areas where the greatest recyclable opportunities currently exist. Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) will also discontinue the use of styrofoam cups in the near future. Our mission is to develop and implement strategies that incorporate sustainability principles into our daily operations and reach the County's sustainability goals.
For more information about MCSO and the county's sustainability goals please click HERE
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Cost to park downtown... $1.60/hr
Cost of parking ticket... $32 each
Cost of sharing our resources with other law
enforcement agencies...priceless
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Polar Plunge Was a Huge Success!
With approximately 800 participants, the Portland Polar Plunge brought in $150,000 with net profit of $115,000 for the Oregon Special Olympics.
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office came in 4th overall for donations
with $4300. Congratulations to everyone who took the plunge!
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The Good, The Bad and The Ugly;
recent news articles or updates you may have missed.
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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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