Icy Roads or Snow Always Surprise Drivers
Crash after Crash after Crash
 Friday morning we all awoke to the beautiful although dangerous work of Jack Frost. We knew the roads were slick, and many of us rolled out of the driveway with safety in mind.
Drivers usually start out slow and cautious, then we relax a bit . . . and encounter a black ice patch, an animal, or another driver's error . . . and we crash. Here are some good reminders for all drivers this winter:
- Do not use cruise control in wet, icy or snowy weather.
- If your car starts to skid, gradually slow down; don't slam on the brakes.
- Ice forms first on bridges, overpasses, and concrete highways - slow down even more.
- When the ice begins to melt, slow down in shaded areas (especially on curves), where ice and snow will be slow to melt.
For more driving safety tips, Oregon tire chain laws, and tips on getting your vehicle ready for winter, read the Oregon Winter Driving Guide.
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Go one step better than driving sober, call 9-1-1 to report the suspected DUII drivers you see. Don't hesitate, save a life.
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The Washington County Map is Changing
 What is all this talk about Area 93? It sounds a little like Area 51, associated with the 1947 crash of an airborne object on a ranch in Roswell, New Mexico. Many claim the object was a spacecraft containing extraterrestrial life. We can assure you that the good people of Area 93 to our northeast are the human sort.
Located 2.5 miles north of the Highway 26 and 217 interchange is a 160-acre area that will soon transfer from Multnomah County to Washington County. Due to existing roads and natural features, about half of the land is available for development. However, Area 93 is isolated from other urbanized areas in Multnomah County by a rural reserve area. This makes providing essential services, such as water, parks, and police protection problematic for Multnomah County officials.
However, Area 93 borders urbanized area in Washington County on two sides. This led local government to take the cooperative and unusual step of suggesting its transfer to Washington County. So we will gain about 40 new county neighbors to the northeast. Residents will soon receive a county mailer that lists the Public Service Providers for Area 93 beginning January 1, 2014.
As of December 5, the Sheriff's Office is policing Area 93 consistent with countywide service levels. However, the Board of Commissioners will conduct a hearing on the proposed annexation of Area 93 on January 7, 2014. Upon annexation to the Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol District (ESPD), residents will receive the increased level of law enforcement service, which is approximately double that provided in rural areas. Welcome Area 93! |
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  Two New K9 Teams on Patrol
Effective December 5, two deputies and their new furry partners completed basic training. Deputy Christopher Green and his partner Gunny (left) along with Deputy Don Maller and Taz (right) have met the Oregon Police Canine Association standards for patrol work. The teams will track suspects, seek lost residents, and search for evidence at crime scenes. |
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When you run errands and have a thousand things in mind, stay alert to your surroundings. Who is around you? Is someone near your vehicle? |
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Community News
 Detectives Working String of "Smash for Cash" BurglariesSmall businesses in Beaverton, Hillsboro, McMinnville, Tigard and many points in between have recently been burglarized. The suspect(s) enter after smashing a front glass window or door and then steal cash or other valuable items. The most recent cases in our area were in Beaverton on SW Hart and SW Murray Boulevard; both happened to be dog grooming businesses. Anyone with information on these crimes, is encouraged to call (503) 629-0111.
Sentimental Items Going to Auction
In a 2012 burglary case, a number of unique personal items were recovered by Detectives. While these items may not be of great monetary value, we believe they may be important to the families who are missing them. Please take a look at the photos, custom furniture, silver table service, coin and card collections, and other items. Perhaps you can help us identify the people in the photos or the rightful owners. Legal owners may submit claims on the items via the Sheriff's Help ID Property website by January 31.
Deputy Sheriff's Vehicle Struck by DUII Driver in Aloha
Deputy Jim Rue was treated and released following this incident. We are please that he will return to full duty this week. Read Oregonian article.
Way More than One Warm Coat
We asked for your help in November to collect new and lightly  used coats for needy people in our community. Your donations far exceeded our goal of 500 coats, with a whopping 676 for a final count!
We thank our fellow county departments who hosted boxes in their buildings, and the many Sheriff's Office volunteers who worked to collect, count and transport all these coats for us. We are also grateful to the City of Banks, Cruise In Country Diner, Du Fresne's Auto Repair, and Glencoe High School Kindness Club for hosting collection boxes.
Vince Montecalvo and his granddaughter, Marissa Parker, are in the photo. Marissa is a junior at Glencoe who was inspired by her grandfather's work on the campaign. She decided to get involved by setting up a box at her school as part of the "Kindness Club" that she founded.
Thank you all for paying kindness forward by supporting One Warm Coat, and please keep us in mind for next November.
Businesses - Have You Seen the New $100 Bill Design?
 You probably heard that the feds released new $100 bills in October, but have you looked at them? Aside from the effort required to protect the design, fraud detectives say that knowing the signs of a genuine bill can save you or your business from being ripped off. It only takes a few seconds to see the new security features. (link to the PDF in the f/restricted folder please).
View Sheriff's Office Media Releases
Stories You May Have Missed
Helpful Information
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 Consider tracking package deliveries online and ask a trusted neighbor to collect them from your porch if you're away. |
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Multi-Agency Response Leads to Theft Arrests
 On December 2, a deputy responded to a suspicious person call and observed an unknown person enter what appeared to be a vacant or abandoned home south of Cornelius. With back up by Cornelius police and a Hillsboro K9 Unit, deputies ultimately contacted five adults who lived on the property in a travel trailer, a mobile home, or in the house. At one point, a female bolted into a field and then returned. Deputies decided to search the field and wooded area.
The K9 team ended up tracking to a stolen ATV and eventually to an adult male hiding in clump of grass. The male said he was hiding because police were there and he didn't know what was going on, and then he fell asleep.
During interviews, deputies learned the people are meth users who steal scrap metal and turn it in for money. It is estimated that they made about six trips to a scrap yard in the past three weeks, each with a metal load weighing 400 to 600 pounds.
The male was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle and Theft I. The female was taken into custody on a warrant for Theft II (an unrelated case). Fortunately, the ATV had been reported stolen so deputies were also able to quickly return it to the rightful owner. |
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The Grinch will be window shopping your vehicle, so hide packages in your trunk or conceal them well. Then lock your vehicle, always.
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Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Report
The attached report is provided for those of you who want to read the investigative findings on the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. We caution you that the content will seem graphic to some readers. We believe the following quote from the report summarizes the results.
The obvious question that remains is: "Why did the shooter murder twenty-seven people, including twenty children? Unfortunately, that question may never be answered conclusively, despite the collection of extensive background information on the shooter through a multitude of interviews and other sources. The evidence clearly shows that the shooter planned his actions, including the taking of his own life, but there is no clear indication why he did so, or why he targeted Sandy Hook Elementary School."
 While many of us suspected that mental health issues played a role in the crime, the report confirms that the mental health professionals who treated him did not see anything that would have predicted his future behavior on December 14, 2012.
Please pray for the victims and their families this Christmas season.
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 Burglars use your address to find your phone number. They love to hear this voice mail: "This is the Anderson residence ... we're away skiing for the Christmas holidays ... leave a message!" |
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Decking the Halls - With Graffiti
 We receive fewer reports of graffiti when the winter chill sets in. We have less daylight, and people just are too busy to notice it. But if you look, you will see it on bus stops, benches, cement walls, signs, businesses, etc. With the decline in graffiti reports, the spray paint bandits are getting the upper hand. We need your help in the coming weeks.
As soon as you notice the spray paint or permanent marker damage, please report it, even if you have no suspect information. Here are two easy ways:
- Call the non-emergency dispatch center to report it (503) 629-0111. Be sure to save the number in your cell phone, OR
- Take a photo with your iPhone and e-mail it to sheriff.web@co.washington.or.us with the date, time, location and any other helpful information you might have.
Please give us one way to reach you in case we have trouble locating the problem spot.
 In unincorporated areas, a deputy will respond to take a report and survey the surrounding area for patterns or clues. We will forward information on tagging in the cities to the local police department. We can work together to clean it up quickly, so please take time to look around during your daily commute.
Home Property is Damaged
How to Clean Up Graffiti
Jail Program
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 After Christmas, conceal boxes for your new flat screen or Xbox when you put them out for recycling. No sense showing Scrooge what's worth stealing in your house! |
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Police Use of Body Cameras Discussion
| Technology drives daily activities in ways we didn't imagine 20 years ago. As businesses and government agencies work to fairly assess the tools that become available, we sometimes wonder if falling behind might mean never fully catching up. |
 Your Sheriff's Office is fortunate to have a strong support from Washington County and from the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Technology work group. Our agency is able to leverage technologies, such as tablets and in-car computers, to increase access to critical data. We are also able to deploy robotic technology.
In the recent issue of Subject to Debate, police leaders from around the world state their views on the growing use of another type of technology - body cameras worn by law enforcement. The experts ask, will these cameras improve public trust? Will they erode community relations? Should all contacts be recorded? Is this a conversation to have with the public we serve?
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 Deciding whether to drive is harder after a few splashes of eggnog. Plan ahead for a friend to give you a sober ride home or call for a cab. |
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 Dumb Crook Bounce Back
Dumb crooks just don't think things through. One recently shared that he got into a fight with a bouncer who kicked him out of a local bar.
Our crook and his sidekick sat in the parking lot and hatched a plan to get even. When the bouncer left work, they followed him and called 9-1-1 to report the bouncer for DUII. The bouncer noticed he was being followed and pulled over in a lot and the crook followed. When police arrived, our crook quickly threw his vehicle into reverse to leave. Laughably, he smashed into a pole, which led to . . . wait for it . . . the dumb crook's arrest for DUII!
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This Month's "Most Wanted"
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Do not approach these individuals. If you see them or have information, call the Sheriff's Office Records Unit at (503) 846-2700, or non-emergency dispatch at (503) 629-0111.
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Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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