Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

Hot off the presses: New 'Neighborhood Watch' newsletter

Dear citizens:

You can now check out the latest issue of our "Neighborhood Watch" newsletter.

The new issue features some terrific articles on how to be a good witness, talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol, and the importance of keep gas in your car's tank. We also provide a handy downloadable form so you can create an inventory of your valuables.

It's an honor to serve you.

Remembering Sheriff Bill Brooks

UPDATE: Info on the Jan. 30 memorial service for Bill Brooks can be found here.

Dear Citizens:

Former Clackamas County Sheriff Bill Brooks passed away this week. I want to honor his extensive legacy of service.

My recollections of Bill are that he was a friendly, easygoing man who cared deeply about everyone who worked at the Sheriff’s Office. He started with our organization in 1953, after serving with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and the West Linn Police Department. He was appointed Clackamas County Sheriff in 1983 by the Board of County Commissioners, and went on to win subsequent elections to the office in 1984 and 1988. While he was Sheriff, Bill implemented several important projects that continue to serve us today -- including a major expansion of the Clackamas County Jail. He retired in 1992 after more than four decades in law enforcement.
 
In 1995, the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association honored him as its “Sheriff of the Year.” Even in retirement, Bill kept in touch with the Sheriff’s Office, and continued to work on important public safety issues -- such as the passage of Measure 57 in 2008.
 
Bill also had an extraordinary knowledge of aeronautics and aircraft, and he always wanted us to have an aero unit with a helicopter.

He will be sorely missed.

Remembering Katie Rani Nolan, Anthony Vietti and Luke Gullberg 

Making the decision to suspend a search-and-rescue mission is among the most difficult that I am required to make as Clackamas County Sheriff. Unfortunately, that was how our rescue efforts for Katie Nolan and Anthony Vietti ended on Dec. 16. The mission received national media attention, so you might think that by now everybody knows everything that happened up on the mountain. But I want to tell you about some of the things you didn’t see on television -- at a special tribute Web page we've posted in memory of Katie Nolan, Anthony Vietti and Luke Gullberg.

Click here to visit the tribute Web page.

It's an honor to serve you.

-- Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts

Hot off the presses: 'The Briefing Room' December 2009 issue!

Dear Citizens:

Click here to check out the latest issue of our "Briefing Room" newsletter. Among the stories ...

• A profile of our School Resource Officers (SROs) -- the first line of defense against school violence. Meet the Clackamas County deputies tasked with educating and encouraging crime prevention among students.

• A feature profile of Jake French -- an extraordinary young man working to walk again after a paralyzing accident.

• A preview of "Mik & Nero," our new series of crime-prevention comics for kids starring our real-life canine deputies.

... and much more. Give the new issue a look and drop us a line. You can also subscribe to the e-mail version of the newsletter by clicking here.

It's an honor to serve you.

-- Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts
 

In Memory of the Lakewood Officers....

 

On Nov. 29, four Lakewood, Washington police officers -- Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards -- were ruthlessly gunned down in a coffee shop. A memorial service was held today (Tuesday, Dec. 8) at the Tacoma Dome. 

Here are some online resources on the shooting -- and info on where you can make donations to the surviving family members:

• Information, tributes and news at the Lakewood Police Department Web page
• Lakewood Police Independent Guild (Fallen Officer Donations)
  
• "In Memory of the Lakewood Officers" Facebook group
  

Get involved with TIP!

Dear Citizens:

Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) is a terrific boon to the community. TIP trains citizen volunteers to help "fill in the gaps" for fire, police and other emergency workers -- offering "emotional first aid" to family members, running errands, connecting victims to aid programs, and much more. TIP volunteers support and comfort victims so we can do our jobs.

Would you like to get involved?

TIP trains new volunteers once a year -- and their next Training Academy begins in January 2010. For more information on the Academy, click here to read a PDF.

It's an honor to serve you.

-- Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts

KOIN on Jake French

KOIN Local 6 just did a wonderful story on Jake French, the remarkable young man working to recover from a devastating spinal-cord injury.

Click here to watch KOIN's video. (For more on Jake, scroll down this page or watch our YouTube video.) You can make donations to the Jake French Fund at any U.S. Bank branch -- or you can mail your donation to: Jake French Fund, c/o CCPO Benevolent Foundation, P.O. Box 426, Oregon City, OR 97045.

New video: A visit with the extraordinary Jake French

Dear citizens:

In 2008, Jake French was paralyzed from the neck down after a horrible accident in the Estacada area. I recently spent the day with Jake and his parents -- and was amazed by Jake's courage, determination and upbeat attitude as the family adapted to Jake's new life.

I was so moved by Jake's story, I asked him and his family to join me at Northwest SARCon's Saturday-night banquet in Welches. We showed a video about Jake's life, and the Clackamas County Peace Officers Benevolent Foundation presented Jake with a check. We also took up a collection from among the 300 attendees in the ballroom to raise more funds. This much-needed money will go toward Jake's trip to Project Walk -- an aggressive spinal-cord injury recovery program that offers Jake's best fighting chance at getting back on his feet.

Click here to watch an extended cut of the video chronicling my visit with Jake and his family. I guarantee you'll be moved by their extraordinary story.

You can make donations to the Jake French Fund at any U.S. Bank branch -- or you can mail your donation to: Jake French Fund, c/o CCPO Benevolent Foundation, P.O. Box 426, Oregon City, OR 97045.

It's an honor to serve you.

-- Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts

New video: 'Clackamas County's Most Wanted'

On our YouTube channel, you can find the latest installment of "Clackamas County's Most Wanted" -- in which I present the latest info on a few fugitives and ask for your help to track them down.

You'll also find a new public-safety message on "Exponential Speed" and a profile of our Marine Unit on YouTube.

New videos: A text-tip how-to -- and much more

On the county's video server, you'll find several new videos -- including:

• A how-to video on sending crime tips to the Sheriff's Office via cell-phone text message;

• info on Clackamas Federal Credit Union's donation to Northwest SARCon;

• Our donation to ailing Sheriff's Office Chaplain Mark Evans;

• A donation to Clackamas Women's Services by Krav Maga;

• And highlights from the May 11 service in which we honored deputies who gave their lives in the line of duty.

(All county-server videos are optimized to played on Windows using Internet Explorer.)

It's an honor to serve you.

-- Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts

Now you can send us crime tips via text message

On Thursday, May 21, we unveiled an exciting new crime-fighting tool: Cell-phone users across Clackamas County can now send us anonymous crime-fighting tips through the power of text messaging.

Click here to read all the details.

It's an honor to serve you.

The Oregonian: 'Humane approach aids deputy in eviction cases'

Dear Citizens:

Oregonian reporter Rick Bella recently spent some time with Deputy Lawrence Jones of our Civil Division. The resulting article is a great read -- touching on Deputy Jones' "calm approach to what could be a really ugly job ... [enforcing] court-ordered evictions when people lose their homes."

Bella goes on to write:

The way Sheriff Craig Roberts sees it, that job should include helping people in need. That's why the sheriff's office printed a new flier that deputies now give to people who are losing their homes.

Titled "Getting Help After Eviction or Foreclosure," the four-page brochure lists contact information for agencies that offer mental health services, social services, housing referral, emergency shelter, food distribution, employment services, health care, youth programs, legal services, conflict resolution and services tailored for youth and the elderly.

We know times are tough. Circumstances beyond a person's control may lead to an eviction. But help is available. You can find an online version of our "Getting Help After Eviction or Foreclosure" brochure right here.

It's an honor to serve you.

-- Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts 

 

New on our Web site: newsletters, a calendar and a new crimefighting tool

Dear Citizens:

We've added some exciting new features to our Web site:

• Click here to check out the Winter 2009 issue of our "Briefing Room" newsletter. This issue is a "Search & Rescue Special" -- profiling the deputies and volunteers who respond to emergencies on Mt. Hood, the world's second-most-climbed mountain.

• There's also a new issue of our "Neighborhood Watch" newsletter, which checks in on the latest ID-theft threat: credit-card skimmers. You can download a PDF of the January/February/March 2009 issue from our Neighborhood Watch Web page.

• We're also unveiling a "Public Safety Events Calendar" -- a list of educational opportunities, workshops, social events and more.

• And finally, I'm pleased to announce our "Can You ID Me?" page -- which features surveillance photos of people we need your help identifying. These people may be persons of interest or potential witnesses; they have not necessarily committed a crime. For your own safety, do not attempt to apprehend or contact them.

It's an honor to serve you.

-- Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts

Help us solve the Sohi murder

Dear citizens:

On Feb. 4, exactly one year after the unsolved murder of Gurdev Sing Sohi, deputies took to the streets with the victim's family at the crime scene to talk to the media and distribute a bulletin -- in the hope of shaking loose new leads that will help solve the case.

If you can help us, drop us a tip.

It's an honor to serve you.

New Videos: 'How to File a Restraining Order,' SARCon overview

We've got some exciting new videos to share with you:

Clackamas County's Most Wanted: January 2009 (YouTube) -- I present our Most Wanted fugitives as of Jan. 1, 2009. For more information and the latest updates, visit our Sheriff's Office Most Wanted Web page.

"Northwest SARCon 2008" (YouTube) -- This video takes you inside our unprecedented four-day gathering in the shadow of Mt. Hood -- America's most-climbed mountain -- where internationally renowned experts led field and classroom exercises covering the latest advances in search and rescue. You can also click here to watch additional interviews with search-and-rescue survivors.)

"How to File a Restraining Order in Clackamas County" (county video server) -- Sgt. Angela Brandenburg takes you step-by-step through the basics of filing a restraining order in Clackamas County. (This video is optimized for Windows and Internet Explorer; pops in a new window.)

AED donation press conference (county video server) -- During a Jan. 16, 2009 press conference, the Wilsonville Police Department received four Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) for use in their patrol vehicles. With each minute that goes by without defibrillation, a patient's chance of survival dwindles; AEDs allow trained personnel to render crucial aid to cardiac-arrest victims immediately. This press-conference footage includes Deputy Mitch Beyer recalling how he used an AED to revive his friend -- a lieutenant who's suffered a heart attack at the Oregon Marine Law Enforcement Academy at Camp Rilea. (This video is optimized for Windows and Internet Explorer; pops in a new window.)

 

It's an honor to serve you.

An important message on Concealed Handgun Licenses and your privacy

Dear Citizens:

Recently, my office has received a number of letters from concealed handgun license (CHL) holders requesting that information in their CHL file be kept confidential by my office. I am writing to clarify my position as the Sheriff of Clackamas County with respect to the public’s right under state law to inspect CHL records. I also want to inform you of how you can help me prevent disclosure of your CHL file.

You may be aware that earlier this year, a ruling by the Jackson County Circuit Court determined that the Jackson County Sheriff could not withhold personal information in CHL files from public inspection under ORS 192.501 (23), a law that protects “security measures” from public inspection. Jackson County has appealed that decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals. I intend to work with my fellow Sheriffs for passage of legislation that would exempt CHL files from public disclosure. In the meantime, I must proceed under the existing statutes. 

It is my belief that CHL files should be private and not disclosed. As a general matter, Oregon’s Public Records Law grants every person a right to inspect any public record unless a particular record fits within specific exemptions to public disclosure. Working with counsel, we have identified three exemptions under current Oregon law that I believe apply to CHL files:

1. Personal safety -- ORS 192.445;
2. Information that would identify security measures -- ORS 192.501(23);
3. And information of a personal nature if disclosure would be an unreasonable invasion of privacy -- ORS 192.502(2).

For me to determine if a CHL file is protected under law, I must make a determination based on a request or information provided by each individual license holder. Without such information, I am unable to protect personal information contained in the CHL file from disclosure. Please send this exemption-request form (PDF, 84kb) to my Office if you believe disclosure of your CHL file fits within any of the statutory exemptions I have identified. 

Send your completed form (which you can download here) to:

Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office
Concealed Handgun License Unit
12700 S.E. 82nd Ave.
Clackamas, OR 97015

Our Web page at www.clackamas.us/sheriff/concealed.htm will provide information on this matter as it becomes available. In addition, you can sign up to receive the Sheriff’s Office newsletter electronically. The electronic newsletter is used to communicate newsworthy events and important updates to our subscribers. This is a timely and cost effective way for us to communicate important information with our citizens, so we will also use this format to communicate major changes to the Concealed Handgun License issue with you. I will follow the existing law, and where appropriate, apply the above exemptions. 

Please return your form immediately if you want to request that your personal information be treated as exempt from disclosure.

It's an honor to serve you.

Check out our new YouTube channel!

We're always looking for new ways to share our messages and connect with the public. So we're excited to unveil our brand-new YouTube channel -- which will allow users to watch, share and embed Clackamas County Sheriff's Office videos across the Web.

Click here to check it out!

We're also using YouTube to spread the word about one of our Most Wanted fugitives: alleged scam artist Leonard Weston Ramey, Jr.

Take a look at our video on Ramey -- hosted by our Public Information Officer, Det. Jim Strovink -- and pass the link along, or embed it on your own Web site. You might help us bring an alleged Ponzi-scheme master to justice.

It's an honor to serve you.

 

How do we deal with an officer-involved shooting? This video has the answers

 

 Dear citizens:

I'm proud to announce the release of "Inside the Tape" -- a dramatic 20-minute video that takes the public behind the scenes to see how we respond to an officer-involved shooting.

The video opens with a fictional lethal-force incident in which a deputy is forced to shoot a man who pulls a gun during a traffic stop. We then use dramatic re-creations and interviews with real-life experts to demonstrate the careful, multi-agency, coordinated response taken by law-enforcement and other officials as they investigate the incident.

Click here to watch the video.

(Pops in new window;
optimized for Windows and Internet Explorer)

The video was created in response to the passage of Senate Bill 111 -- which requires law-enforcement officials to educate the public about their responses to incidents involving the use of deadly physical force.

As I say in the video's introduction: Our mission is to be open and transparent in these situations. We need to be considerate of and compassionate toward the deputies involved in these situations, their families, and also the family of the individual who died as a result of a deputy's actions. It's our hope that this video will provide some valuable insights.

It's an honor to serve you.

-- Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts

REPORT: Oregon drug use exceeds national average; abuse and trafficking of meth, marijuana remains epidemic

Dear Citizens:

Want to learn the status of Oregon's drug trade -- and how we intend to fight it?

The Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program just released its annual Drug Threat Assessment and Counter-Drug Strategy -- an in-depth report that examines trafficking of marijuana, meth, and other drugs in Oregon.

• You can read the press release here.
• You can download the full 46-page report here.

It's an honor to serve you.

-- Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts

Our Jail Web site: new and improved!

Dear Citizens:

Our Web pages for the Clackamas County Jail just got a lot more useful.

If you click on the Jail link above (or on the left side of this page), you'll now be taken to a brand-new mini-site. On the left side of that mini-site, you'll find new links to all sorts of practical Jail information, including:

About the Jail
Fast Facts
History
Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)
Jail Tours

Inmate Status
Current Inmate Roster
VINE (Victim Information and Notification)

Info for Inmates & Visitors
Frequently Asked Questions
Bail
Visiting Policy
Mail Policy
Inmate Money Accounts
Property Release
PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act)

Thanks to Sgt. Lee Eby and Clackamas County's Web Development Team for helping us set this up.

It's an honor to serve you.

Learn about our 'Past, Present and Future' with new PDF brochure 

Dear Citizens:

I began my career with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in 1982. Since then, I’ve watched us become the third-largest Sheriff’s Office in the state -- and I've watched us grow from serving a primarily rural county to serving a county that’s a blend of urban and rural.

We've grown so much, in fact, that we can't expect the public to know all the different ways we serve Clackamas County.

So I recently commissioned an eight-page brochure that offers a quick overview of the Sheriff's Office -- a sort of "Eyewitness Guide" to all our services, our history, and our plans for the future. We'll soon be handing this out at public events and at our stations, but I also want to offer it as a PDF download right here:

"Clackamas County Sheriff's Office: Past, Present and Future" (PDF, 8 pages, 1.2 MB)

This handout is designed to give readers a general understanding of CCSO -- our history, our structure, our responsibilities, our accomplishments, our budget, and our plans for the future. You'll also find out how we're working to save money, embrace innovation, and involve the public in local law enforcement.

Our top priority is public safety, and we're constantly looking for ways to reduce crime through education, enforcement and technology. I'm incredibly proud of our hard-working deputies, and I'm proud to share this information with you.

Older Sheriff's Messages