The Green Hornet

 MCSO eNewsletter

 Your 24/7 Human Services
 and Public Safety Agency 
 
  
JUNE/JULY 2010
In this issue
Sheriff's Letter
AJA Conference Comes to Portland
MCSO Award Ceremony
Take The Oath
Metal Theft
Dragon Boat Racer Takes Third
Another Mode of Transportation
Special Olympics Run
Twitter With Us
Buddy Bear is Back
2010 Citizen's Academy
Learning CPR Can Save a Life
Skipper and Stelle, Honored
Warrant Strike Team Update
MCSO 2010 Service Report
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
flyer
Letter from the Sheriff

Sheriff Staton

As you all know, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has been leading an expanded search for Kyron Horman, a 7 year old student of Skyline Elementary School who disappeared from the school on Friday, June 4. The search expanded from local search and rescue effort to a statewide response involving 18 Oregon Counties and teams from Washington and California. Law enforcement and support assets from Oregon's sheriffs, local municipalities, state police and the FBI have been involved in an ongoing investigation concurrent to the search and rescue operation. We are in day 20 of this search and rescue operation, and to date Kyron has not been located and continues to be considered missing and in danger. We continue our search efforts in hopes of returning Kyron safely to his family.

This search has been particularly taxing on many members of our agency. Not only those committed to the operational command post, investigation, support functions,and media and family liaisons, but also to our members devoted to ensuring core service functions. Despite the ever increasing depletion of resources being committed to this ongoing search operation, MCSO staff continue to perform their duties, as always, in an exemplary manner.

I want to thank each of you for your dedication and commitment to continuing to provide Sheriff's Office core functions to our community during this strenuous time - your service to this agency, this community, and our patrol districts, jails, courts, libraries, and rivers is vital to public safety in Multnomah County and has not gone unnoticed.


Once again, to all of our members, thank you.

sheriff

 
For updates regarding this investigation, please click HERE
AJA Conference Comes to Portland

AJA
 photo by Red Feller


May 23rd through the 27th, the Sheriff's Office hosted the American Jail Association's 29th Annual Training Conference and Jail Expo.  More than 1000 jail professionals and students, from 215 individual jurisdictions, 44 states, the District of Columbia, and the countries of Bermuda and Singapore, attended the conference. 

The American Jail Association, formed in 1981, has hosted an annual training conference each year since its inception.  AJA's annual conference creates an opportunity for jail professionals to learn from the successes and challenges of their colleagues, build upon their innovations, remain current in the profession, and support one another in the face of fiscal challenges and crises.


swearing in
Captain Bobbi Luna being sworn in by
Major Robert Lucas 2009 AJA President

                                               

The Portland Oregon Visitors Association and the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office partnered to make a bid for Portland as a conference location seven years ago.  Captain Bobbi Luna was a member of AJA's Board of Directors when Portland was chosen as a conference location.This year, seven years later, Captain Luna became the first president of the AJA Board of Directors to be sworn in as president in her home town. Captain Luna will serve as AJA's president through May of 2011, when she will swear in the new board president at AJA's conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
During her tenure, Captain Luna will represent the AJA at local and national events, and will be working on advocacy efforts, including legislation and rule making at the national level, on behalf of America's jails that would:
  • Create a National Criminal Justice Commission that includes a professional Jail Manager
  • Allow cell phone blocking technology in correctional and detention facilities
  • Oppose rules that could unravel our inmate phone services, and
  • Provides for continued funding for inmates who are eligible for Medicaid and Veterans benefits while being held pretrial. 

In addition, Captain Luna's committees will begin work on curriculum for a National Jail Leadership Executive Academy, develop a template for measuring and reporting on jail operations, deliver a series of online training seminars, and build new collaborative partnerships to support the nation's jails.

The Sheriff's Office would like to thank all of the men and women of this office who volunteered their time to support the AJA conference activities.
Award Ceremony 2010

The auditorium was standing room only for this year's MCSO Award Ceremony held on June 2, 2010.


purple heart
    Sheriff Staton with Deputy Dawn Hathaway

who was awarded the Purple Heart

                                                  photo by Red Feller
                                                               
Sheriff Staton addressed the audience by saying,

"We will be paying tribute to 40 members of the sheriff's office and 5 members of the community whose contributions to making this community safe rose to such a level of excellence that the most appropriate expression of our gratitude is through the public acknowledgment of their contributions.  Some of these acknowledgments are of great personal courage; some are for perseverance through difficult times; and, some are through the tireless dedication of public service. 

A famous line by William Shakespeare in the play Twelfth Night says, 'Some are born great, others achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.' During the next few hours you are going to hear the stories of some very special people who made some very special contributions to the community and to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.  Whether 'born,' 'achieved,' or 'thrust upon them,' I believe you will agree that the level of greatness recognized today is in the highest tradition of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office."

Among the award recipients were Judge Tom Kohl who contributed his personal experiences for our educational program called From Drugs to Mugs, and two inmates, James Robert Parker and Michael Wayne Smith, who were recognized for saving the life of a Work Crew deputy. The Award of Valor was also presented to David Patchett. Since 1968, the award has been presented thirty-eight times since 1968.

lifesaving award
      Deputy Preston Dutson with James Robert Parker and Michael Wayne Smith
                                                      photo by Red Feller

For a complete list of award recipients, please click
HERE
                       
  Have you taken the OATH yet? Do it HERE.

Metal Theft is on the Rise

wireMetal theft is a growing problem across the nation and in our own community. It costs Oregon businesses and citizens millions of dollars in replacement costs, damage repair and loss of use each year.

For every dollar lost from metal theft, the thief is likely to earn only pennies per dollar from metal recycling facilities. Law enforcement officers in the Portland area respond to calls of metal theft on a daily basis. The thefts range from stolen car parts or air conditioning units to cables torn from cranes.

Because of this problem, lawmakers have enacted some requirements that will affect scrap metal businesses and citizens alike.

To learn more about this issue and read the enacted laws, please click HERE
Corrections Counselor's Dragon Boat Crew Races to Third Place

dragon boats
Zen Dragons Team.
Tim Barnes in the back right with the hat


During the weekend of June 12th, the Portland Community College team, the Zen Dragons, raced to third place over all, out of 32 teams. The team broke the three minute barrier in their first race on Saturday for the first time in the 22 years of PCC racing  to achieve a time of 2:57.4. In their third race on Sunday morning, the Zen Dragons broke their own record and achieved a new personal best of 2:53.

With varying schedules and all team members being first year paddlers, Corrections Counselor Tim Barnes says "to have competed to this level of achievement was exceptional!" Several team members enjoyed their experience so much, they intend to join other teams in future years. Barnes would like to thank his two experienced coaches, Fran Palk and Lennie Kesterson and their tiller Patrick Riggs for coaching them so well.

Barnes is also talking about forming a team of Sheriff's Office employees for next year's races! Stay tuned.

Congratulations Tim!

Another Mode of Transportation to Keep Multnomah County Safe

atv
Deputies Graziano and Frauendiener on ATV patrol

The newly created Multnomah County Sheriff's Office ATV Unit cleared four warrants arresting two people on the bike path in Maywood, Oregon this afternoon. Deputy Joe Graziano and Deputy Bret Frauendiener are the program's first two students.  Although this was only their second day of training, the deputies were able to make several community contacts. During the morning's pre-training briefing, MCSO ATV Instructor Deputy Mark Herron reminded Graziano and Frauendiener that, "While on the trail, you're cops first.  That is what the public will think and expect." While traveling north on the I-205 bike path they came across two people who looked 'out of place.' While speaking with them,the deputies were able to identify them, confirm four warrants, discover a pot pipe, a meth pipe and several personal checks that were admittedly going to be used for forgery.
 
The MCSO ATV Unit has gotten its start thanks to the Department of Homeland Security Bonneville Buffer Zone Protection Program grant.  We were granted 3 four-wheeled quads and 1 eight-wheeled amphibious Argo. The ATV Unit's primary mission will be to provide intermittent policing at the Army Corps of Engineers Bonneville Dam Project.  The Project encompasses 1320 acres (190 submerged) of which only 177 are developed and 69 are wooded.
 
The ATV Unit's secondary mission is for Search and Rescue and Community Policing. MCSO is committed to building community partnerships, increasing police presence, contributing to community education, and fostering a safer community through the use of alternative patrol methods to reduce crime and the fear of crime, increase the livability in Multnomah County and improve public-police communication. A structured, comprehensive ATV Training Program is essential for ensuring that standards are taught and maintained in order to be professional and safe. ATVs as an alternative patrol method allow for greater community contact and interaction, strengthening the police - community partnership. Street-level law enforcement is the foundation of community livability that a well-trained ATV Patrol Officer is able to provide.


Carrying the Torch for Special Olympics

special olympics

On June 26th MCSO enforcement deputies joined other local agencies in an 8.8 mile run with the special Olympic torch from Floyd Light Middle School to Mt Hood Community College. During the opening ceremonies, the runners proudly escorted the Flame of Hope into the stadium to light the cauldron. Participants included:

Deputies Tim Wonacott, Kent Krumpschmidt, Jay Pentheny, and Mark Inman joined the Law Enforcement runners while Sergeant Diana Olsen and Deputy Johnny Ahn assisted with food. Sergeant Brent Ritchie and Deputy Eric Gustafson participated in the motor escort and Chief Deputy Tim Moore drove the van.

special olympics
Comfort: One "Buddy Bear" at a Time


bears
MCSO's Kimberly Walker-Norton with OPA Pro Bono Chair, Kelley Chaney

There are times when police officers, detectives, and Records Division personnel come in contact with children who have been involved in traumatic incidents.  Frequently, by providing these children with something they can hold and cuddle, staff can help promote a feeling of safety and/or encourage dialogue. Oregon Paralegal Association Pro Bono is working towards reestablishing the Buddy Bear Program with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. 

On Friday, June 18th, 2010, at the Standard Insurance Center Auditorium, MCSO accepted a huge collection of new bears for our law enforcement division to hand out for moments of comfort.

The Buddy Bear Program is a wonderful way to reach out to children within the community. The program thrives on the generosity of businesses, professional groups, and individual citizens. This group helps replenish the collection of new bears to be given to children in need of reassurance during difficult times.

Thank you so much to the Oregon Paralegal Association Pro Bono group for your generous and thoughtful donations. These bears are always an appreciated and much needed contribution for MCSO.

Sign Up For 2010 Citizen Academy Now!

Academy Schedule:

Wednesdays, 7pm - 9pm, Wood Village City Hall

The FREE academy begins September 8th, 2010 and graduation is November 17th, 2010.

Applications available online here or at the Wood Village City Hall during regular business hours.


For more information Click HERE


Anyone Can Help Save a Life

The importance of being ready for a life-threatening emergency hit hard on April 30, 2010 for Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Deputy Preston Dutson.  While on a work crew assignment supervising two Multnomah County jail inmates, Deputy Dutson pulled over to help a driver stranded by the side of the road.  Deputy Dutson started experiencing medical complications, stumbled, and eventually collapsed.
 
James Parker, one of the inmates on the work crew, used the skills he learned in a CPR class to help save the life of Deputy Dutson.  Another inmate, Michael Smith, took instructions from 911 during the incident.
 
Life thre
cpratening emergencies are more common than you might think.  According to a recent Red Cross survey, 28% of people have witnessed someone choking and 27% have been  in a situation where someone may have needed CPR. 
 
According to the American Heart Association, effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double a victim's chance of survival.  CPR helps maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain and increases the amount of time that an electric shock from a defibrillator can be effective.  Nearly 75% of cardiac arrests happen at home.
 
CPR/First Aid Certification is required for law enforcement, corrections, and facility security officer staff at the Sheriff's Office. We train employees every other year for a two year certification period. Your local chapter of the Red Cross can help you get trained in CPR/AED and First Aid.

Bob Skipper and Ed Stelle, honored as Distinguished Citizens

Annually, the Thunderbird District, Boy Scouts of America presents its "Distinguished Citizens Award" to a worthy individual(s) whose leadership in business, industry, government, education, and other community endeavors has contributed significantly to the growth and vitality of their community.  We're pleased to announce that this year Bob Skipper and Ed Stelle will be honored at the annual award dinner. 

On September 16th, 2010 a Distinguished Citizens Dinner will be held in honor of Bob Skipper and Ed Stelle at the Persimmon Country Club.

If you are interested in attending this event, please click
HERE
Warrant Strike Team Updates 
  
Performance Measures for May 2010
 
Warrant Service Attempts 131
 
Warrant Arrests 
Non-Multnomah County Warrant Arrests  6

Warrants Served 19

Warrant Attempts and Arrests  150
 
Additional Information:

Twitter with us


Strike Team members arrested Jerry and Sheryl Knight several months ago and they were recently sentenced in a Multnomah County Courtroom.
Article link
                       
Strike Team members arrested Richard Westfall in North Portland for charges of sex abuse I. This case has been featured on several news channels as there may be more victims out there. This was a no bail warrant and Westfall is currently housed at MCDC.
Article link
                   
Strike Team members arrested Trinidad Romos-Vasquez in SE Portland for charges of sex abuse I x3. Bail was set at $1,250,000 and he is currently housed at MCIJ.
 
Strike Team members arrested Theron Cluster in NE Portland for charges of sex abuse I. Bail was set at $762,500 and he is currently housed at MCIJ.
 
Strike Team members arrested Douglas Lairson in NE Portland for charges of sexual exploitation of a child (warrant was out of Washington State). This was a referral from Kitsop County and we were able to arrest Lairson hours after receiving the information.  Bail was set at $250,000 and he has been extradited to Kitsop County, WA.
 
Strike Team members arrested Luis Lopez-Morales in SE Portland for charges of sodomy I. Bail was set at $500,000 and he is currently housed at MCDC.
 
Strike Team members arrested Vlaid Lafave in SE Portland for charges of sodomy I. Bail was set at $5,040,000 and he is currently housed at MCIJ.
 
Strike Team members arrested Jasmine Adams in NE Portland for a United States Army Desertion warrant. This was a no bail warrant and she is currently housed at MCIJ waiting to be extradited by the US Army.

The MCSO 2010 Services Report is Out.

Check it out HERE
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly;
recent news articles or updates you may have missed.


"Take note, before you float your boat" -- river cops
Suicidal man leads three law enforcement agencies on chase down Interstate 84
Kyron Horman Plea: 'Missing Endangered' Billboard Campaign
Related To Story Gresham Chase Suspect Wanted By Deputies
Reynolds graduate dies in gorge trail fall
Family survives sinking SUV on Sauvie Island
Quick Links...
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
Join Our Mailing List