Greetings Citizens,

Soon qualified voters will receive information about the renewal of the Enhanced Sheriff's Patrol District Levy. However, since people move on average every five years, that means a lot of folks might be helped by hearing the basics on the District. 

Do I Live in the ESPD?  Our web application can tell you. It is also a great way to directly contact the supervisor for your area, either by phone or by email.

What does "urban unincorporated area" mean? The areas that lie outside the legal boundaries of a city, that have a dense population more like a city than the rural farming areas. This map shows the ESPD areas. 

Why Do We Have ESPD?  In 1987, citizens in the area wanted an enhanced level of deputy services compared to the rural areas. They wanted faster response times, increased patrol presence, responses to and investigations of more crimes, and crime prevention services. They voted to create their own district. This allowed them to fund the needed police services without the area annexing into a city, and at a lower tax rate. Today, the Sheriff's Office provides about double the number of deputies in the ESPD compared to rural areas. 

We will share more information about the levy as it is finalized, but in the meantime, please feel free to ask me questions and to visit our website to learn more about the District.

Sincerely,

Sheriff Pat Garrett

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)

Stories give context to complex issues, and for sure, using a Concealed Handgun License requires the holder to understand the finer points of the law. We asked our deputies to recall a case where a CHL holder reacted appropriately in a situation and we easily found this one.

Before daylight one morning, a woman was home alone with children in a rural residence. The family dog was restless and let her know he wanted outside. Before letting the dog out, she spotted a flashlight beam out by her barn. She kept the dog inside, grabbed the phone and her handgun. While on the phone with 911, she turned on all the outside lights, including a remote lighting system she and her husband had installed in the barn. She was armed to protect herself if needed, but knew her best defense was to stay inside, secure the residence, and call 911. 

After the barn's interior lights came on, the woman saw the tail lights of a truck heading away from her home in a hurry. The woman remained inside until a deputy arrived and ensured the barn was secure.

It takes a lot of personal control sometimes to do the right thing. In this case, the woman was very smart. She called 911 immediately, took steps to secure her home and family, and she armed herself. She then put the suspect on notice that people were home by lighting up the property. The remote lighting was a great safety feature. She did not leave the security of her home to investigate on her own, and therefore, kept herself, the children and even the pet safe.

Thank you to the reader who suggested we share stories of appropriate CHL use.

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)

When you say "speed trap", most motorists think of a town or an area where they feel preyed upon by police for minor traffic infractions or violations. They seem to be issuing the same ticket to everyone with a huge fine attached. Well, the legislature changed the rules of the game.

As of January 1, if you are pulled over for a traffic violation or crime in Oregon, the presumptive fine will be strictly based on the category of the violation set by state law.

These fines will double in special enforcement zones, such as schools and near and around construction areas. So the cost of running late and pushing on the pedal (say 12 mph too fast) is $320 in a school zone. 

Do deputies ever issue warnings?  Yes.  In 2011, Deputies issued warnings to motorists about 60% of the time. Warnings are usually given for equipment or other low level safety violations. 

How do deputies decide whether to issue tickets?  Deputies issue citations specifically to change driving behaviors that lead to motor vehicle crashes. We measure our success by the reduction of fatal and injury traffic crashes, reduction in DUII crashes, and the percentage of traffic deaths per county population. 

These changes will impact all law enforcement agencies in the state. However, because deputies are not held to quotas and our budget is not influenced by traffic fines, the main impact to our operations is the change in base fines. 

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)

Deputies encounter calls daily where mental illness poses challenges to restoring the peace, making arrests, and lodging in jail. As a county, we have found many innovative ways to serve this population.

In our newest program, a Washington County Mental Health Specialist rides on the busiest shifts with a patrol deputy. This gives deputies more resources on the road to deal with suspects or others who need assistance beyond the traditional role of law enforcement. It also helps to ensure they are not just arrested and put in jail unless that is truly the best option for a dangerous individual.

If we can help the person to heal or overcome addictions or other triggers, we know we will avoid repeated issues and improve public safety.

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)

Washington County is the second most populous county in Oregon, with two of the busiest sections of highway in the state as main arterials. Yet, the portions of I-5 and Highway 26 that wind through Washington County are some of the safest in terms of commercial truck crashes and driving behaviors. 

In 2010 and 2011, we had ZERO fatal crashes involving commercial carrier trucks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Oregon Department of Transportation, this two-year record has not happened anywhere else in the Portland-Vancouver area in many years, if ever.

We deploy one Motor Carrier Deputy who primarily focuses on commercial truck compliance and six additional deputies who are trained as truck inspectors -- and they keep busy! Our Motor Carrier Deputy alone issued more than 900 traffic citations and conducted 434 truck inspections last year. Together, our inspectors conducted 800 truck inspections in 2011, with trucks being taken immediately out of service about 38% of the time for mechanical deficiencies. Drivers were taken out of service about 12% of the time for license disqualification, hours-of-service violations, and driver fitness (illness, fatigue, DUII). The national out-of-service rates are 20% and 5%, respectively.

The bottom line is that truckers know they will be monitored in Washington County, and we think this work is improving their driving behavior and reducing fatal crashes.

We thank the Oregon Department of Transportation for a grant that allowed us to recover $30,000 for this work in 2011.

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)

SWAT Callout Ends with Two Arrests in Raleigh Hills

Deputies ordered the occupants from the apartment using a loudspeaker; three adults quickly came out and were detained. A fourth adult refused to come out. He gave up about 45 minutes later and was arrested without incident. Detectives interviewed the suspects and arrested two of them. They are charged with Robbery I. The investigation is ongoing.

Man Running in Traffic in Beaverton
On February 3, 2012, deputies responded to a report of a man running in and out of traffic while screaming at vehicles. At one point, he jumped on the hood of one of the vehicles and began punching the windshield with his fists.

When deputies arrived, the man, wearing only jeans and socks, was growling and screaming, and flexing his arms. He would not comply with commands and began advancing toward the deputies. Once in custody, the man would not identify himself, but told deputies that he had a broken neck and that he had died the night before. He begged them to keep the handcuffs on him so he, now a zombie, would not kill them. Deputies transported him to St. Vincent Hospital where he was treated and released for transport to jail. It appears he was under the influence of drugs.

More Headlines

01-23-12 Detectives Seek Help Identifying Robbery Suspect (links to video)

01-26-12 Man Arrested for Murder after Shooting at Aloha Bales Thriftway

02-04-12 Pizza Hut Driver Robbed at Gunpoint  

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)

Remember your last contact with a Washington County Sheriff's Deputy - either from Patrol, a Detective, or maybe you visited someone in the Jail. How did they serve you? We hope your experience was so good that you understand how hard we work to find the right people, to give them the best training, and then trust them to uphold the highest standards.

If you know someone who is smart, dedicated, and who acts with integrity and purpose, maybe you should give them a little nudge and suggest they apply. They just might answer your next call!  Apply online.

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)

Washington County residents remember the Bunny Lady, the woman whose hoard of rabbits was seized and then housed by authorities. That seemed appalling, but over time deputies and animal services officers are responding more often to calls about much larger animals that have been seriously neglected or abused. Just where can a deputy shelter a horse . . . and fast?

Funded by donations, sponsors, and court-ordered cost recovery, Dr. Barbara Kahl and her husband opened their barn doors as a SPCA facility. They offer no-cost rescue and rehabilitation services for malnourished and neglected Willamette Valley horses. Now, how do we thank them for responding to our calls?

Last fall, we joined forces with four other sheriff's offices to assemble 65 inmate workers to clear brush, dismantle old structures, and to erect fencing, loafing sheds, and storage. Their work thankfully increased the capacity to help more horses too.

Our inmate work crews tackle community service projects just like this all year long. In 2011, inmates provided maintainance to Forest Grove and Hillsboro parks, the Washington County Fairgrounds, and the Banks School District. They planted hundreds of trees for Cornelius Public Works, cleared an illegal dumpsite in Yamhill, and cleaned graffiti throughout the county. The inmates take pride and work hard, and the cities and schools are thankful for the free inmate labor as budgets remain tight.

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)

On January 26, an observant homeowner on SW Kelly View Loop in Aloha reported smelling cigarette smoke in his garage and seeing the dome light on in his vehicle. He also noticed a guy sitting in the passenger seat of a neighbor's car. Deputies contacted the suspect in the car and ended up arresting him for Burglary, Possession of Meth, and Theft. Then their investigation revealed that there may have been a second suspect. A K-9 track led to the arrest of a second adult male found hiding in a nearby backyard. Deputies charged him with Burglary, Possession of Meth, and Criminal Trespass. All that for a vacuum and a leaf blower!

(Vol_8 Issue_2-February, 2012)