Cold cash, hot crime

1
Headless Duck fans
P. 7 ~ Dcuk fan steals
ESPN’s Corso Mascot Head
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2010
TROOPER NEWS
WWW.OSPOA.COM
Roadside Shooting
Associated Press
HELENA, Mont. -Police are trying to
piece together what led
a dog trainer to shoot
and kill a state trooper
along a roadside in
southwestern Montana,
prompting a manhunt
that ended with the
suspect found dead in
his truck.
That’s only the first of
several unanswered
questions surrounding
the killing of Montana
Highway Patrol officer
David DeLaittre, 23,
who was found dead of
a gunshot wound in his
vehicle on Wednesday
afternoon.
Police later found the
shooter, Errol Brent
Bouldin, 56, dead in
his 1999 green Ford
F250 pickup truck in
Broadwater County
south of Townsend,
which is about 35 miles
north of Three Forks.
Still unknown is what
led to the encounter
between Bouldin and
DeLaittre off Montana
Highway 2 just outside
of Three Forks, where
the Gallatin, Jefferson
and Madison rivers
converge to form the
Missouri River.
Gallatin County Sheriff
James Cashell said
police also don’t know
yet how Bouldin died,
whether he took his
own life and what
weapon or weapons
were used to kill
DeLaittre and himself.
Cold cash, hot crime
LOWELL — A plethora of holiday lights
and Christmas carols playing nonstop on
the radio aren’t the only signs of the season.
A spike in robberies is another bellwether,
local police say.
Every year, police say they see a spike in
bank robberies around the holidays, but
there seems to be little agreement as to
why.
As soon as there was a chill in the air,
Lowell and Dracut police reported a jump
in bank robberies between October and
November.
Police in those two communities
responded to a total of seven bank
robberies or attempted bank robberies
between Oct. 12 and Nov. 27. Lowell was
the hardest hit, with five bank robberies,
while Dracut reported two during that
Remembering the Lakewood Four
By Sara Jean Green
Seattle Times staff reporter
At precisely 8:15 a.m. Monday, four families gathered in a Parkland coffee shop
to mark the moment when four Lakewood police officers were gunned down a
year earlier as they drank coffee and worked on their laptops.
two-month period.
Lowell police responded to a bank robbery
on Nov. 15 at the Enterprise Bank on
Merrimack Street. Four days later, there
were back-to-back bank robberies at TD
Banknorth branches in Dracut and Lowell.
The following week, the Enterprise Bank in
Lowell was hit again, on Nov. 23, and TD
Banknorth in Lowellwinter continued on page 8
The gathering at the coffee shop served as an emotional
preamble for the day’s far more public ceremony:
dedication of a black granite memorial honoring the
officers outside the Lakewood Police Department.
Dozens of law-enforcement officers and firefighters
from across the region joined public officials and
The solemn gathering inside Forza Coffee brought together the families of hundreds of citizens in recognizing the anniversary
victims Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and of a shooting that became a defining moment for the
Gregory Richards to remember their loved ones and pray with a chaplain. The community.
families later invited other Lakewood officers to join them for a few private
Gov. Chris Gregoire called last year’s shootings an
minutes.
unwanted reminder of the dangers inherent in law
“It was courageous of them” to spend that time in the place where their loved enforcement.
ones died, Lakewood police Lt. Chris Lawler said. “You could just tell it’d been
“The whole world did stop for us that day,” she
tough and probably emotionally draining.”
Remember continued on page 8
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2010
TROOPERS URGE DRIVERS
TO USE CAUTION IN ONTARIO
AREA FOLLOWING MULTIPLE
CRASHES
Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers in the Ontario
area responded to multiple traffic crashes Tuesday
afternoon, November 30, as the area experienced
heavy snowfall and hazardous driving conditions.
OSP Sergeant Mark Duncan urged travelers to slow
down and drive safely during these difficult winter
conditions.
Photographs are provided from three of the several
non-injury traffic crashes that happened in the area:
WWW.OSPOA.COM
* At approximately 12:10 p.m. a 2009 Honda Fit
driven by a 21-year old woman from Denver,
Colorado was westbound on Interstate 84 near
milepost 363 it lost control on the icy roadway and
slid into the median after striking a fog marker.
2
we owe to our own family. That is, by intervening we
put the welfare of strangers above the welfare of our
own family. That’s not an opinion, but a stark fact,
and one that we don’t often think of.
* At approximately 3:00 p.m. a 1995 Jeep Wrangler
driven by a 40-year old woman from New Plymouth,
Idaho was eastbound on Interstate 84 near milepost
376 when it lost control on the icy roadway, rotated to
the left and rolled after colliding with a fog marker.
Now, my friend was not talking about on-duty
actions. If we are on-duty, we clearly have a duty and
an obligation to act. We made that decision when
we took our oath. My friend was talking about offduty situations, in which we have no official duty or
obligation to act.
* At approximately 3:40 p.m. a 1993 Toyota 4Runner
driven by an Ontario-area man was westbound on
Interstate 84 near milepost 373 when it lost control,
slid into the median and rolled onto its side.
To what end? To possibly help third parties to whom
we owe - if anything at all - much less than that which
What of the innocent people who are in danger if we
do not intervene? Well, the obvious question to ask
is: why aren’t they armed and prepared to protect
themselves and their families? Isn’t protection of one’s
family from harm the primary obligation of everyone,
and not something to be outsourced to others?
What if the Wis. gunman’s school had an SRO on campus?
Interaction with kids makes a difference
A 15-year-old Wisconsin student brought two handguns to school on Monday and held his
Social Studies class hostage for six hours before shooting himself in the head as a SWAT
team entered the classroom.
A School Resource Officer’s daily contacts are powerful — the SRO is not only a
protector, but a role model for many kids
Related content sponsored by:
One of Sam Hengel’s hostages was his teacher, Valerie Burd, who later described
the teen as an excellent student with many friends.
The six-hour standoff came to an end after Hengel fired three rounds inside the
classrom, striking a telephone and a computer. Hengel dropped one of the guns
as SWAT busted down the door and then picked the other up off a podium and
pointed it to his head.
As a SWAT officer grabbed his arm, he squeezed the trigger.
School Resources Officers
Based on the reporting we’ve read, and the fact that cops were first alerted of
the situation through the principal’s 911 call, we assume that Marinette High
School did not have a School Resource Officer. By sheer coincidence, PoliceOne
Columnist Dan Marcou wrote a story last week about the value of having SROs
on campus, in which me makes a compelling case for the role of cops in the lives
of students.
Because SROs are on campus throughout the entire school day, they are often
“told of impending fights, incidents of abuse, and the location of drugs and guns
in the school,” Marcou writes. “School Resource Officers are being contacted by
students all over the country daily, not only because of their convenience, but also
because of the relationship they have established based on respect and trust.”
Hengel’s motivations are still either unknown, or they have not been released to
the public. Initial comments from students and the teacher make him out to be a
well adjusted kid with no obvious issues. Having an officer on campus could have
served several purposes in Monday’s tragedy:
• Be a role model – SROs are tasked with building relationships during
this critical developmental period in life. Students can confide in the officers about
troubles they are experiencing at home or in school.
• Discover the handguns – A sworn officer on campus has the time,
skills, and resources to track down firearms because of his/her law-enforcement
background and daily proximity to students.
• End the threat – If an SRO was on campus at the start of Monday’s
hostage situation, he/she may have been able to end the threat before it elevated
to a six-hour standoff. There’s also the possibliy that in a 700-student school like
Marinette High School, the SRO could have known the student personally, which
would have been a valuable tool in negotiation.
Plenty of administrators don’t like the idea of having armed police officers on
campus, but others that are struggling with youth violence are welcoming the
help.
Oakland Chief goes to Washington
Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts is in Washington, D.C. as we speak, lobbying
for federal money to fund a program that would put six cops in four of the city’s
middle schools. The department, which has been heavily hit recently by several
waves of budget cuts and layoffs, would need about $6 million in extra funding to
place the cops in the school.
“The idea is to make schools safer, steer kids away from crime, and build positive
relationships between police and the city’s young people,” Oakland PD spokesman
Officer Jeff Thomason told the Bay Citizen. “Statistics have shown that kids are
very vulnerable at that age where they start to either go into a gang or they start
straying from school.”
School Reopens
As of today, Marinette High School is back in session, with teachers and
counselors ready to give support and reassurance to students. Authorities
spent yesterday investigating the classroom and interviewing students at
their homes.
“We understand there is a fear factor that we must overcome,” Principal
Corry Lambie told the Associated Press. “But we’re the adults, the leaders
in the building, so we need to take care of our kids.”
Could they possibly benefit from one more adult leader in the building?
One in uniform, perhaps?
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2010
WWW.OSPOA.COM
Ending 7 habits of successful officers
Era
I would like to address some
issues that have come to the
surface. First and foremost
many of you have probably seen
the recall petition against the
OSPOA President, Jeff Leighty.
I have hesitated to comment on
the issues because I believe that
each member needs to make
their own decision on how they
want to proceed in this matter.
The OSPOA constitution clearly
provides for members to mount
a recall against officers of the
association if they see fit.
With that being said I also feel
that each member needs to
realize that Jeff works hard every
day to try to make a difference in
the association and each of your
lives. He was elected for his
strong convictions, outspoken
manner and his ability to
persevere. In my opinion these
same traits have spawned this
recall effort.
Jeff has made it clear that he is
in his final term as the OSPOA
President and has been making
plans for the next phase of his
life, no matter what that turns
out to be. If anyone doubts
the good that Jeff has done
they should talk to some of our
members who have had to use
the services of the association
over the past 5 years. I have seen
Jeff dig his heels in and fight
furiously for members rights.
I have also seen Jeff confront
members during conversations
in which our members are being
critical or self serving. When
these situations have occurred I
have later questioned Jeff about
being brutally honest with his
opinions to these members and
his answer has always been
that he does not believe in
watering down his opinions to
be politically correct.
I have also been in many
meetings
and
bargaining
sessions where Jeff has done the
same with high level managers
when dealing with critical
issues. Some take it well and
others don’t. But they always
know where Jeff stands and can
rest assured that when he gives
his word he will stand by it.
Era continued on page 4
What personal traits do you have to
possess for your peers and the public to
think you’re one helluva cop? In other
words, what does it take these days to be
a “5%er”?
Related Article:
7 habits of successful departments
A couple of weeks ago, we reported the
views of nationally known trainer Kevin
Davis on the qualities of a successful
policing agency. Now we’ve asked Davis
to construct a companion list, itemizing
the attributes of successful officers, those
stand-out hard-chargers who are best
constituted to “take care of business”
effectively and legally in even the most
challenging assignments.
“Success is not defined by time on the job,”
says Davis, a popular ILEETA instructor,
independent training consultant, and
28-year veteran with a medium-size
municipal agency in northeast Ohio. “You
may bring some of these qualities with you
when you start on the job and you can
develop them all regardless of tenure.”
These traits are not all-inclusive, nor
are they static goals, he points out.
“They require constant nurturing and
reinforcement. But in my observation and
experience, if you want to be the kind of
officer that others respect and want to
emulate, this is the core of what it takes to
get there.”
Feel free to add to or comment on Davis’s
Vital Seven:
1. Intrinsic Motivation
“It’s tough to be a cop anywhere in the
world today,” Davis allows. “When was
the last movie you saw where a police
officer was a squared-away individual and
not a human wreck? Disrespect for law
enforcement seems to be part of a general
societal degradation.
mentally and physically prepared each
day for whatever may come down the
road. Focus on what you can control (your
attitude and behavior) rather than what
you can’t control (society’s perceptions).
The aura you create will radiate out from
you.”
Any professional to be successful must
be familiar and competent with the tools
of his trade. For LEOs, that includes the
duty firearm, the tactical baton, pepper
spray, the Taser, and “all other weapons
systems you carry, including your personal
physical and verbal weapons,” Davis says.
2. Decisiveness Based on Legal Knowledge
Uncertain, indecisive officers are a threat
to themselves, fellow officers, and the
community they serve. Successful officers,
in contrast, “can make quick, confident
decisions because they know what they can
and can’t do under the law and according
to their department’s policies and
procedures,” Davis says. “You can’t make
a good decision on anything — vehicle
stops, Terry stops, use of force, search and
seizure — unless you know what conforms
to the rules of your profession.”
“For successful cops, there is no acceptable
alternative option: You must master the
weaponry for every level of force you may
be called upon to use, beginning with
command presence. In a life-threatening
situation, you want your pistol to appear in
your hand and on target without conscious
thought. Developing skill to that level
takes time and effort, but without mastery
the results when your life is on the line
could be catastrophic.”
Although the continuous flow of legal
information may seem intimidating, “it’s
important to stay up on court decisions
because they affect what you do every
day,” Davis says. “The best cops will have a
better working knowledge of the law than
most prosecutors and judges.”
3. Devotion to Training and Practice
“Training is what you learn from someone
else. Practice is a gift you give yourself,”
Davis says. “For success, both need to be
constant. The best musicians tend to be
those who practice the most. The same
is true for cops. The more you sweat in
training and practice, the less you’re likely
to bleed on the street.
“We’re a fast-food nation. We want things
now, in 10 easy lessons, one DVD. But the
truth is that there’s no easy way to become
good. Some behavioral scientists have
estimated it takes 10,000 hours of practice
and experience to truly master complex
skills.
“These days, you may not get motivating
pats on the back from extrinsic sources.
You have to be driven by a steel-plated,
intrinsic positive attitude that’s your
durable epicenter of professionalism,
regardless of the reactions of others.
“When bullets are flying and people are
trying to kill you, you need to rise to that
occasion and go home safely when it’s over.
But you better have practiced extensively
and regularly for that day. If you haven’t,
you risk doing something really stupid by
over-reacting or under-reacting.”
“There’s a saying that you should ‘shine
your shoes for yourself, not for anyone else.’
That’s the attitude of the true professional,
and it’s manifest in the way your uniform
and leather look, in the way you take care
of yourself so you can do a better job, and
in the way you go out every day looking
for crime and offenders instead of being a
‘spectator cop’ who sits back and watches
others be the ‘real police’ getting things
done.
Davis says that 5%ers recognize law
enforcement as a “true profession” that
incorporates a wide variety of skill-sets. To
perfect them may require seeking outside
training at your own expense if your
department won’t foot the bill. Training
and practice are an officer’s “life blood,”
Davis says. “They’re an investment in your
own future. You gain confidence from
competence and competence from hard
work that never ends.”
“Policing is not a game. You have to be
4. Weapons Mastery
Good tactics that allow you to gain and
maintain an edge of advantage can be
thought of as part of your weapons system.
“A successful officer knows how to prevent
a fight as well as what to do in a fight,” Davis
observes. “With tactical skill, you deny an
adversary the opportunity to assault you,
so you don’t have to go toe-to-toe with him
or blindly race into a situation and make
yourself an easy target.”
Tactical competence needs to be an
evolving art. “Take time to learn trends
— what the criminal population is
innovating, what’s new that you’re facing
out there — so you can adapt your
alertness and behavior accordingly,”
Davis advises. “Again, take the initiative
in educating yourself to understand your
enemy. Waiting for your agency to inform
you can be dangerous.”
5. SMEAC Planning
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It’s that
simple,” Davis declares. He’s talking about
goal-setting and pathway-mapping across
a broad spectrum: your next call, your
career, your life outside of policing.
He believes that successful officers employ
a planning approach represented by the
acronym SMEAC — Situation, Mission,
Execution, Administration and logistics,
Command and signals.
Situation: First, you identify clearly the
individuals and circumstances you’re
dealing with. What are you involved in or
heading into? “You access as much current
intelligence and background as you can
to help you see as complete a picture as
possible,” Davis says.
• Mission: What is your goal; what exactly
are you trying to accomplish? “Without a
goal you have no focus.”
• Execution: You lay out simply and
methodically a strategy for how you’re
seven continued on page 7
3
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2010
WWW.OSPOA.COM
4
OSP TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO 70 LBS. OF MARIJUANA
An Oregon State Police traffic stop last
Saturday near Grants Pass led to the arrest of
a North Carolina fugitive and the seizure of
approximately 70 pounds of marijuana and
cash. The investigation is being continued
by the Oregon State Police (OSP) Drug
Enforcement Section and the interagency
Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE)
team.
According to OSP Sergeant Jeff Fitzgerald,
on November 20, 2010 at approximately 5:12
President’s Note
On Wednesday, December 1, 2010,
a fellow Trooper with the Montana
Highway Patrol has lost his life in the
line of duty. Trooper David DeLaittre,
23, was killed during a traffic stop. The
suspect was later located, dead from
an apparent self inflicted gunshot. This
senseless act of cowardice reminds us of
what we all know and the public does
not . . . There are no “routine” traffic
stops. I encourage you to visit the Officer
Down Memorial page www.odmp.
org and leave a reflection on Trooper
DeLaittre’s page. You can also visit the
pages of other fallen officers including
those of the Oregon State Police that
have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Senior Trooper Ken West and Recruit
Charles Rohlf will represent us at the
memorial for Trooper DeLaittre.
OSPOA worksite representative training
was conducted last month with in
Bend, Pendleton, Roseburg and Salem.
Weather prevented several members
from attending in Salem, but all in all
there was very good attendance. We will
be conducting more training later this
winter.
p.m. an OSP trooper stopped a 2006 Lexus
four-door displaying Oklahoma license
plates on Highway 238 for failure to drive
within a lane of travel. The driver, Jason
Brian Bunch, 37, from Williams, Oregon
was identified as being a fugitive wanted on a
felony North Carolina warrant for Producing
and Manufacturing Marijuana.
Subsequent investigation during the traffic
stop led to the discovery of approximately
70 pounds of marijuana inside the car. The
Members of the OSPOA contract team
will be hitting the road the week of
January 3rd to visit offices to get member
input on the upcoming bargaining
session. LaGrande and Coos Bay have
requested meetings so far. We will not
be able to hit every office in the state so
watch the OSPOA board in your office
and the webpage for a schedule of office
visits. If you are unable to attend and
have specific ideas for the team please
contact the bargaining team member for
your division.
DO NOT USE THE OSP EMAIL
SYSTEM FOR THIS.
The bargaining team members are as
follows:
Jeff Leighty-President
[email protected]
Darrin Phillips-VP
[email protected]
William McGill-Patrol
[email protected]
Scott Salisbury-F&W
[email protected]
seized marijuana’s estimated value
is $175,000. Bunch was also found
to possess over $6,000 cash and a
small amount of cocaine.
Bunch was arrested and lodged in
the Josephine County Jail on the
following charges:
* Fugitive From Justice (North
Devon Sommer-Forensics
[email protected]
Mark Banks-Criminal
[email protected]
Terri Jones-Dispatch/non sworn
[email protected]
At the time of this writing, the start date
for bargaining has not been set.
Two of the most important things
that you as OSPOA members can do
to get involved are first, contact your
legislators. Let them know that you
want them to support the OSPOA
and its members. Call me if you want
to know what your legislators’ voting
record is on our issues. Legislators tell
me that contact from their constituents
is very important in their decision
making process. Secondly, donate to the
TrooperPAC. The TrooperPAC supports
our efforts in the legislature. Pay
parity? Bargaining over safety issues?
Your dues didn’t pay this. TrooperPAC
did. Using the Oregon Political Tax
Carolina warrant)
* Unlawful Possession of a
Controlled Substance – Marijuana
* Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled
Substance – Marijuana
* Unlawful Manufacture of a
Controlled Substance – Marijuana
* Unlawful Possession of a
Controlled Substance – Cocaine
Credit, your contribution of $50.00
per individual or $100.00 per couple
costs you NOTHING! It is the one way
that you can direct some of you own
tax money in the way that you choose!
If you don’t use it . . . you will lose it!
EVERY OSPOA MEMBER SHOULD BE
USING THIS. Many OSPOA members
donate over and above this as they
understand how important TrooperPAC
is. Got questions? Contact TrooperPAC
chairman, Darrin Phillips darrinphillips.
[email protected] or myself.
Wishing you the best of the holiday
season!
Please stay safe,
Jeff
Era continued from
The side of Jeff that many don’t see is his overwhelming sense of generosity. Having
know Jeff for the past 20 years I can honestly say that he is one of the most generous
people anyone has ever come into contact with. If you are in need he will be there
to pick you up. As my 8 year old son put it “Dad, Jeff might be the most generous
person I have ever met”. He always looks forward to stopping by the office to see Jeff
because you never know what trinket might be coming his way.
With all of that being said even Jeff will admit that he has not always been right.
Anyone who is willing to make decisions and do what they think is best will always
be the people who draw the most criticism. But when things have gone wrong
he has not pointed fingers at the SEC or anyone else even though many of those
decisions were shared with others.
I can only hope that if I follow Jeff as the OSPOA President that I will be able to
maintain his level of commitment, professionalism and honesty.
If any of you have questions about Jeff ’s opinions or actions please contact him and
discuss it. And, if enough of our members feel the need to proceed with a recall vote
you can rest assured that a vote will occur.
The bargaining team is preparing to leap into action and we will be touring the
state during the first week of January 2011. The SEC decided that since most items
of interest, discipline etc flow through the SEC they should be more involved in
contract negotiations. The bargaining team will consist of Jeff Leighty (president),
Darrin Phillips (VP), Mark Banks (region rep/criminal), Bill McGill (region rep/
patrol), Scott Salsbury (fish and wildlife), Terry Jones (dispatch) and Devon
Summers (forensics).
Dates will be forthcoming so please take the time to come to the meetings if you can
because your input will assist us in the bargaining process. Unfortunately we can’t
come to the field with each item that is presented to us during bargaining, so any
input we get before the process starts is critical.
I think the team is a good mix of SEC members and representatives from the field
who have previously negotiated contracts. I anticipate the upcoming contract to be
difficult and hard fought so the level of experience that this team offers should help
greatly.
We have already started to meet and put together a strategy to get us through the
process so cross your fingers and say your prayers.
In closing I wanted to comment on the Montana State Trooper who lost his life in
the line of duty last week. Through a cooperative effort the OSPOA and OSP are
sending several members to the memorial service. Unfortunately many of us have
lost friends in the line of duty and each time I read about one of these tragedies I
think of my lost friends. Please take time to honor this fine young man as well as
our fallen comrades in some way this week. The needless loss of this young man’s
life reminds us that we need to live each day as if it is our last because we never know
when our number will come up.
Until next month take care of yourself and each other.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2010
WWW.OSPOA.COM
AAST on top again at national matches
Although OSP has not been able to
send a team to the National Police
Shooting Championships in a
number of years, I continue to track
the progress of troopers across the
country who come out on top year
after year at the national event.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol
has an incredible track record in
competitive shooting, and this year’s
September event was no exception
for M/Sgt. Dan Rawlinson.
Dan’s score of 2,958-173x put
him at the top of the state trooper
competitors and won him the
coveted AAST-sponsored High
Scoring State Trooper Award, a
Springfield XDM .40 caliber pistol
provided by Springfield Armory.
Dan ended up in 7th place overall
among 300+ competitors, among
which were state troopers from
California, Iowa, Mississippi, New
Mexico, and Texas.
AAST sponsored its annual
barbecue dinner, where state
troopers gathered the night before
the matches to enjoy camaraderie
and a barbecue dinner at the home
of New Mexico state trooper Andy
Baldridge.
Congratulations to all state troopers
who excelled in this prestigious
national event.
Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers have arrested one person and are still seeking witnesses in
relation the investigation into damage to Oregon State University’s Reser Stadium football field
artificial turf following Saturday’s football game.
Quickly following Tuesday afternoon’s news release with a Portland Tribune photograph
showing an unidentified male holding a burning shirt amongst a large group of people on the
field, OSP received over 50 tips. Included amongst those tips were several emails linking to
a YouTube video depicting the start of the incident that eventually led to burn damage on a
section of the artificial turn.
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5
Competing state troopers gathered for the annual AAST-sponsored
barbecue dinner.
Portland Tribune/Christopher Onstott
Working throughout the evening, investigating troopers identified the male in the photograph
holding the burning shirt into the air. On December 7, 2010 at approximately 9:25 p.m.
OSP troopers contacted that person identified as Joshua David Britton, 20, at a Eugene-area
apartment. Britton, a Beaverton resident who is a junior at the University of Oregon, was
subsequently arrested and transported to the Benton County Correctional Facility in Corvallis.
He was booked and later released pending an appearance in Benton County Circuit Court on
January 6, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.
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WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2010
WWW.OSPOA.COM
6
ICY ROAD CONDITIONS FACTOR IN MULTIPLE TRAFFIC CRASHES
Icy conditions were a contributing factor in at least
four traffic crashes Friday morning along Interstate
84 in the Ladd Canyon area east of La Grande. In
one of the crashes, an unoccupied Oregon State
Police (OSP) patrol car and a La Grande Rural Fire
District emergency response vehicle were struck.
According to OSP Senior Trooper Kyle Hove, on
November 12, 2010 at approximately 8:20 a.m. OSP
and La Grande area fire and ambulance personnel
responded to a report of a crash westbound on
Interstate 84 near milepost 270. Emergency
responders arrived at the scene located at the top
of a westbound on ramp and parked their vehicles
to check for any injuries and start the investigation.
The OSP trooper parked his patrol car off the
travel lanes between the westbound traffic lane
and freeway onramp. While the trooper was out
of the patrol car talking to a driver of an involved
passenger car, the driver of a westbound pickup
towing a trailer lost control. The trailer overturned
onto its side, separated from the pickup and slid
into the driver side of the OSP patrol car. The
pickup struck the left front corner of a La Grande
Rural Fire District vehicle and rolled onto its side.
Winter weather conditions can make driving
dangerous for anyone. OSP and ODOT urge
travelers to:
The pickup’s driver, Willian S Hardrath, 24, from
Baker City, was not injured. He was cited for
Careless Driving.
Be prepared and watchful for changing
highway conditions.
Inspect your vehicle before you get on
the road. Make sure your wipers, lights,
battery, tires and brakes are working
properly.
Allow more time to reach your
destination.
In severe weather, closures and crashes
can cause long delays.
Drive cautiously and wear your safety
belt.
The driver of the vehicle involved in the first crash
was transported by ambulance to a local hospital
with minor injuries.
No emergency responders on scene were injured.
The westbound lanes were restricted to one lane of
travel for about one hour during the investigations
and scene clearance.
OSP troopers were assisted by La Grande Fire
Department, La Grande Rural Fire District, and
ODOT.
SERIOUS INJURY TRAFFIC CRASH - INTERSTATE 5 IN EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD AREA
A Eugene man was seriously
injured early Monday morning in a
single vehicle rollover crash in the
southbound lanes of Interstate 5 in the
Eugene/Springfield area. Oregon State
Police (OSP) troopers are continuing
the investigation for which the man is
facing several charges.
According to OSP Trooper Evan Sether,
on November 1, 2010, at approximately
1:48 a.m. troopers and local emergency
responders were dispatched to a single
vehicle rollover crash southbound on
Interstate 5 near milepost 191. The
investigation indicates a 1987 GMC
Jimmy SUV driven by Russell D. Allen,
20, from Eugene, was southbound
when it drifted off the right shoulder,
traveled back across the southbound
lanes and struck the center concrete
barrier where it rolled several times.
Allen was not wearing his seatbelt
and had to be extricated by fire
personnel before being transported
to the Sacred Heart Medical Center at
Riverbend with serious injuries. He
will subsequently be charged with
DUII, Reckless Driving, and Criminal
Mischief in the Second Degree.
OSP from the Springfield Area
Command office were assisted on scene
by Springfield Fire & Life Safety, Eugene
Fire Department, Goshen Fire &
Rescue, and ODOT. Both southbound
lanes were closed for approximately
two hours.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2010
WWW.OSPOA.COM
BIG HEAD CASE RESOLVED;
DUCK FANS FACE FELONY
BY JACK MORAN
The Register-Guard
A pair of Oregon Duck fans face felony
theft charges for ripping off an oversized
mascot head of college football analyst
Lee Corso during Saturday’s Civil War in
Corvallis, state police said Monday.
One of the suspects — identified as
Eugene resident August Michael Zane
Cuneo — allegedly swiped the mascot
head after spotting it inside a box next
to an ESPN trailer on the Oregon State
University campus, then hid it in some
nearby bushes.
Cuneo’s alleged accomplice, Alexander
Joseph Westerberg, 25, of Harrisburg,
later arrived in a car that the pair used
to transport the head to the Eugene area,
authorities said.
Westerberg and Cuneo, 26, previously
attended the University of Oregon, state
police Lt. Jeff Lanz said. “I think it’s safe
to say they were probably Ducks fans,”
Lanz said.
He added that neither suspect ultimately
graduated from the UO.
Police on Monday cited Westerberg and
Cuneo on charges of first-degree theft.
Both will appear in Benton County
Circuit Court on the charges, which
are felonies because the value of the
mascot head exceeds $1,000. In fact,
ESPN officials cited the estimated value
at $5,000.
The hunt for Corso’s head gained national
attention on Sunday, when ESPN
reporter Erin Andrews used her Twitter
7
account to request that it be returned.
Corso was in Corvallis on Saturday as
part of ESPN’s College GameDay crew,
which broadcast from there prior to
the nationally televised football game
between the Ducks and Beavers. Corso
is known for donning the head of a
team’s mascot after making a pregame
prediction that they’ll win.
On Sunday, the first clue emerged that a
Ducks fan might have been responsible
for the theft. A photo initially sent to
Andrews that subsequently circulated on
the Internet depicted someone in a green
UO sweatshirt wearing the fake Corso
head.
Investigators saw it but couldn’t initially
say for certain that it wasn’t “a Beavers
fan trying to throw us off,” Lanz said,
a few hours before state trooper Orly
Johnson cited Westerberg and Cuneo in
the head case.
Authorities recovered the head earlier
Monday after an OSU employee found it
outside his Harris­burg area home, next
to his car. Lanz said one of the suspects
knew the employee and was aware that he
worked at OSU.
Lanz said the suspects dropped off
Corso’s head in Harrisburg after having
“second thoughts” about the theft.
State police plan to return the head to
ESPN. The network has used it in a
commercial that features a Ducks mascot
wearing it as he walks past Corso — who
is talking on the phone while clad in the
Ducks’ mascot head.
seven continued fron page 1
doing to accomplish your mission. What help do you need from other people? Who
does what exactly? “You have to be flexible enough to alter your plans as the situation
evolves, but thinking about your tactics in advance is a safeguard against winging it,”
Davis explains. “In law enforcement when we just wing things tends to be when we
screw up bad.”
These first three elements, Davis says, are the most important part of planning.
• Administration and Logistics: This refers to nitty-gritty practicalities. “On a SWAT
call-out, for example, this step includes deciding what radio channel you’re going to
use, checking to be sure everyone has a vest and handcuffs, assigning who’s riding in
what vehicle, determining how you’re going to get to the scene — important details
that assure your plan moves forward smoothly,” Davis says.
“A successful officer can swim in the swamp of life on the street and not come out
stinking. He or she can hunt monsters without becoming one. Ethics is often taught
in law enforcement classes. The successful officer makes it an action as well as an
idea.”
7. Continuous Improvement
Successful officers consider themselves a work in progress, regardless of their years of
service or the successes they’ve accumulated. When it comes to 5%er performance,
“you are never completely and permanently there,” Davis says. “There are always
opportunities for improvement, and the successful officer actively searches for ways
to be better.”
• Command and Signals: How are you going to communicate and relate to the parties
involved?
There may be breakthrough moments when radical changes occur. But more likely —
and usually more reliable — is an ongoing series of small changes that arise through
self-reflection and identification of ways to enhance your personal and professional
lives.
6. Integrity
“The dark side of law enforcement is always looming,” Davis warns. “The history of
this profession is filled with good, aggressive officers who lost their way. The challenge
is to go about your life on and off the job in an ethical way.
“Taking incremental, continuous steps is usually more desirable than attempting
giant leaps,” Davis says. “Improvement that’s not drastically different is easier to
implement. As times change and circumstances change, it’s important to keep
evolving in positive ways if you want to stay successful.”
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 2010
WWW.OSPOA.COM
remember ontinued fron page 1
said. “We ... were shocked, we were
saddened, we were outraged. Indeed,
the world felt our pain.”
In addition to the Lakewood officers,
Gregoire noted that three others were
killed in the line of duty in Washington
last year, making 2009 the state’s
deadliest year for law enforcement in
more than seven decades.
“The people of Washington know
that when they put on their uniforms,
they’re sacrificing their safety for
ours,” she said.
Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar
struggled to steady the emotions of his
officers and himself.
“Mark and Greg and Tina and Ronnie
will be sorely missed. I miss them
every day. I think about them every
day,” he told the audience.
“What these people meant to the
community, what they meant to the
Lakewood Police Department, will be
something we’ll remember for the rest
of our lives,” he said.
“Out of this tragedy, we’ve tried to
make something good.”
The monument, which bears the names
of the four officers and the date they
died, features an image of a kneeling
officer etched into the granite. Water
gurgles through a trough along the
base of the monument, below a Latin
phrase — Praecessi in vulnero via —
that translates to “We go in harm’s
way.”
At the memorial, people left flowers,
candles and other mementos,
including hand-drawn posters made
by Owens’ 8-year-old daughter,
Madison, and 9-year-old niece. The
latter depicted Owens firing a gun at
the devil.
The four officers were at the coffee
shop at the start of their shifts when
they were shot by Maurice Clemmons,
an ex-con with a grudge against police.
Clemmons, who was shot and
wounded in a struggle with Richards,
eluded capture for 40 hours before
winterr continued fron page 1
was hit on Nov. 27.
“The second robbery at Enterprise Bank was committed because the suspect
got lucky (with the first robbery) and felt that they might able to pull it off
again,” Lowell police Capt. Kelly Richardson said.
Late last month, the FBI joined forces with Dracut and Lowell police
departments to search for suspects in bank heists at two TD Banknorth sites
in Lowell -- 32 Mammoth Road and 45 Central St. -- and TD Banknorth at
1255 Bridge St., Dracut.
What explains the rash of robberies?
FBI spokesman Greg Comcowich declined to comment on any ongoing
investigations, but admitted, “We don’t know why but it is not unusual to see
a spike around the holidays.”
Richardson said Lowell “always sees an increase at the holiday season,
regardless of the economy.”
“But I’m sure that with more people out of work, it is causing a greater
increase,” he added.
Drug addicts always need money for drugs, Richardson said, and robbing a
bank may seem like a big score. And there is increased pressure for cash when
Santa’s sleigh is empty.
But Larry Siegel, a professor of criminal justice and criminology at UMass
Lowell, disagrees. He describes Lowell’s increased bank robberies as a fluke.
“I strongly believe that in the short term (under 10 years), criminals are not
affected by the economy,” Siegel said. “They don’t have jobs so they are not
subject to being laid off.”
The 1977 comedy Fun with Dick and Jane with George Segal and Jane Fonda
he was fatally shot by Seattle police
Officer Benjamin Kelly in Rainier
Valley.
Pierce County sheriff ’s Sgt. Nick
Hausner said last year’s line-of-duty
deaths brought about “a new age for
law enforcement,” in that citizens now
demonstrate support for police in
ways they never had.
On Dec. 21, Hausner and Deputy
Kent Mundell were shot responding
to a domestic-disturbance call near
Eatonville.
Hausner survived, but Mundell died
from his wounds a week later.
The Lakewood anniversary, combined
with the upcoming anniversary of
Mundell’s death and the Oct. 31
anniversary of the fatal shooting of
Seattle police Officer Tim Brenton and
wounding of Officer Britt Sweeney, has
made this a painful period, Hausner
said.
“It makes it harder because it’s kind
of pulled out and drug on for three
(and the 2005 remake starring Jim Carrey
and Tea Leoni), about a comfortable, middleclass couple who resort to robbery after Dick’s
company goes belly up, is “a myth,” Siegel
said.
“It’s a myth that people who are unemployed
become criminals,” Siegel said.
He suggested that most of the recent bank
robberies are being committed by one or two
people -- maybe someone just released from
prison -- who hits the streets and “goes back
to what they know.”
The engineer who gets laid off is more likely
to turn to cybercrime than walking into a
CONTACT US
President ..............Jeff [email protected]
Vice President......Darrin [email protected]
Secretary..............Ken [email protected]
Tresasurer............Terri [email protected]
Region I Rep........Tom [email protected]
Region II Rep.......Bill [email protected]
Region III Rep......Jeff [email protected]
Region IV Rep........Mark Banks...........banks@ospoa
Region V Rep........Stephanie [email protected]
Office Manager......Rhonda Lewitzke......rhonda@ospoa.
com
Editor, Trooper News/Trooper Magazine
Amanda L. [email protected]
8
months,” he said. “It just kind of hurts
your heart a little bit longer.”
In an effort to create something
positive from the painful anniversary,
Farrar and his 102-officer department
launched a Fallen Officers Food
Drive to coincide with the memorial
dedication.
Farrar vowed to collect food every
year on Nov. 29 to honor his officers’
memories.
Trucks, loaded with pallets of food,
began arriving at the Lakewood
department at 7 a.m. Reader boards
advertising the food drive were set up
along 100th Street Southwest and at
police headquarters, and green plastic
bins were being filled with baby cereal,
peanut butter, cans of tuna and other
donations.
Helen McGovern, executive director
of the Emergency Food Network in
Lakewood, said thousands of pounds
of food had been donated by Monday
morning. The officers’ families, she
said, also contributed $25,000 in
donations they had received.
bank with a gun, he said.
A drug addict may rob a bank every few days
or weeks when the money for drugs runs
out. The average score from a bank robbery
is about $4,000, Siegel said, compared to the
hundreds of dollars in cash, cigarettes and
lottery tickets from convenience stores that
are robbed each year.
Regardless of why these robberies are being
committed, Richardson said, “The Lowell
Police Department will stay vigilant through
the holiday season to ensure that we do
everything in our power to prevent these
crimes and will work diligently to apprehend
any participants.”
The Trooper News is an official publication of
the Oregon State Police Officer’s Association. It is
produced monthly for active and retired OSPOA
members. Articles and letters appearing herein do not
necessarily reflect the views of the OSPOA, its officers
or its editor.
This newspapers is your means of communicating
with other OSPOA members statewide. Articles and
letters that are appropriate and in good taste are
accepted from members and nonmembers alike. It is
desired that the articles be limited to approximately
500 words except by agreement with editor. Advice
and publishing guidelines can be obtained from the
editor
The receipt deadline for articles is the 25th of the
month and precedes the month in which the articles
would be expected to appear. Submit articles to:
Editor, Trooper News
3905 River Road, Suite B
Salem, OR 97303
[email protected]