MCSO 2013 Fall Awards Ceremony  

On November 13, 2013 the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office held its Semi-Annual Awards ceremony to honor those who have provided exemplary service in their duties and to the community.   

There were eleven life-saving awards presented during the ceremony. Honored were two River Patrol deputies who prevented a suicidal person from jumping off a bridge piling into the Willamette River. A Search and Rescue Volunteer for saving his friend when he recognized he was having a medical emergency. Several civilians that assisted a fisherman who suffered a medical emergency on the bank of Eagle Creek and several employees and a civilian doctor who assisted in saving the life of a court employee who suffered a sudden medical crisis.  

Among other awards presented: nine Citations, nine Community Service awards, and five Letters of Commendation. In addition, two Sheriff's Awards were presented to community members and businesses that have provided continued and much appreciated support to the River Patrol and to the Corbett Citizens Patrol.  

MCSO Cleans Up 1000 Acres

Multnomah County Sheriff's Office conducts coordinated clean-up effort of Thousand Acres/Sandy River Delta recreational area

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office coordinated a public safety clean-up effort in the Thousand Acre/Sandy River Delta on Wednesday, October 23, 2013. Deputies from MCSO were joined by officers from Troutdale and Gresham Police Department along with officers from the United States Forest Service, Union Pacific Railroad and Oregon State Patrol in a cooperative outreach, clean-up and enforcement effort to remove a proliferation of unlawful campsites in the Thousand Acre/Sandy River Delta area creating environmental and public safety hazards. Deputies canvassed the area posting notices at illegal campsites as they were located in the weeks leading up to the clean-up effort. JOIN outreach volunteers were also out in the area and worked to connect transient campers with community resources and alternative housing options that may be available to them. During the day of the clean-up effort, Department of Human Services staff was available on-site during the clean-up if assistance was requested. MCSO Inmate Work Crews kept busy cleaning up and removing over 10,000 pounds of refuse from the scenic areas around Thousand Acres and the Sandy River Delta.

Over the past few years an increase in unlawful camping has generated a tremendous amount of litter and created potential public health hazards. This had destructive consequences on the environment with make-shift structures and garbage accumulating along the trails and in the woods around the area. MCSO Deputies have responded to several criminal investigations including both person and property crimes (to include assaults, trespassing, menacing, unregistered sex offenders, etc) in the area over the past year. The joint effort of outreach, clean up and enforcement took place in an effort to restore the vicinity and provide an improved environment for daily visitors to the Thousand Acres/Sandy River Delta recreational area. MCSO provides law enforcement services in the Sandy River corridor extending from the Clackamas County line to the river's terminus at the Columbia River.

On October 26, 2013, staff from the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) competed against Washington County Sheriff's Office staff (WCSO) in a Wounded Warrior Project softball fundraiser at the HMT complex in Beaverton, OR. MCSO lost to WCSO but everyone was winners as they helped raise funds to support the Wounded Warrior Project.

As we get ready for winter driving, here are a few tips to keep in mind to keep your trips safe.

IS THIS TRIP REALLY NECESSARY?
Any safe winter travel starts with a bit of prior planning:

1. Is your vehicle ready?

Did you follow your manufacturer's recommendations regarding operating systems, fluids, and care? How about other winter specific needs like tire chains, a shovel, or the regular emergency breakdown essentials like blankets, flashlights, flares/reflectors, etc?

2. Are you ready for your vehicle?
 

Do you know how your vehicle will handle in adverse weather? Drive very defensively, anticipate well ahead, and stay off the brake when you can.

3. Do people know what you are doing?
 
Whenever you travel in winter weather, let someone know where you are going, how you are going to get there, when you should arrive, and any emergency pre-plans. Keep your "safety" contact informed of any deviations from the plan and always check in when you arrive.

SOME WINTER EXTRAS

As a reminder, like bundling up in added layers of clothing, here are a few items to add to your vehicle's emergency supplies for winter travel:

-Tire chains that fit (practice putting them on if you can)

-Snow shovel (full sized or collapsible)

-Airtight container of ice melter (plastic coffee can works well)

-Leather or work gloves, spare warm gloves/mittens, plus consider extra warm clothing.

-Small tarp or closed foam pad (to lie down on the snow without getting too wet)

-Blankets or sleeping bags

-Water

-Emergency food (don't snack on it as you drive, its for emergencies).

-Flashlights with fresh batteries

-Cell phone car charger. Keep your cell phone plugged in unless its an emergency

PLAN AND LET SOMEONE KNOW

Plan ahead, stick to your plan, and let somebody know what you are doing. Especially if traveling when winter conditions are forecast, stick to main highways and roads where possible. Finally, make sure you call your contact to let them know you've arrived safely. Just as important, before setting off make sure your contact knows what to do if they do not hear from you by your estimated time of arrival.

TAKE YOUR TIME

Whether due to weather or backed up traffic, count on at least double the time to reach your destination as you would take in non-winter conditions. Take it nice, easy, slow, and anticipate well ahead of time when accelerating, braking, turning, or otherwise changing the direction or movement of your vehicle.

KEEP INFORMED

Check the weather forecasts prior to leaving, and stay tuned to a station that has weather information if traveling any distance in winter conditions, especially if they are forecast to worsen as you go. Keep alert for signs that tell you to tune into a radio channel to get localized weather advisory information. Especially in the dark, if conditions worsen to the point where you are having trouble seeing or staying on the road, it may be advisable to find lodging for the evening and give it another go in the morning.

Most importantly, HEED ALL WARNINGS. If a roadway is closed DO NOT attempt to travel on it regardless of how you are equipped or how experienced you are in driving in adverse conditions. Roadways are closed because travel on them has reached such a hazardous level that it is dangerous for emergency responders to attempt.

WHAT IF I BREAK DOWN?

If the unforeseen happens and you either break down or find yourself unable to proceed, there are two main issues that you will need to address sooner than later:

-BE SEEN

Put out a flare behind your vehicle, put up your reflective triangles, tie something bright and reflective onto your antenna, do whatever you can to be seen by other traffic and any potential rescuers. If you can run your vehicle intermittently, keep your emergency flashers on while your vehicle is running.

-FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG

Decide early on whether your problem is mechanical or environmental. Unless you know how to fix a mechanical problem with your vehicle, don't waste your time. If you are simply stuck in the snow you may have the ability to dig yourself out, put on chains, or otherwise take measures to get yourself going again.

-ALERT SOMEBODY THAT YOU NEED HELP

If you have cell reception, being stranded in extreme winter conditions with a non-functioning vehicle is a life threatening situation; call 911 for assistance. If your vehicle runs but you are stuck, call non-emergency. If you do not have cell reception, you will need to be able to take care of your situation until your contact person initiates an emergency response to find you because you have not arrived as anticipated.

-STAY PUT AND STAY WARM

If you cannot move your vehicle, in most circumstances, you are better off staying with it and sheltering in place even if your vehicle is not running. If your vehicle does run, as a rule of thumb turn on the motor for 10 minutes for every hour you are stuck. If you are forced to leave your vehicle, make sure to leave a prominent note in it as to who you are, who is with you, and what direction you intend to travel. Stay on or near the roadway and be visible.