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Law Enforcement Motorcycle Ride
Slated for May 8th
The Blue Knights Oregon II chapter
is sponsoring a Law Enforcement Memorial Motorcycle Ride on May 8,
2004. Registration will be at the State Capitol from 8:00 AM to
10:00 AM, or people may pre-register by e-mailing l.cole1@comcast.net
The ride is open to everyone and all street legal bikes are welcome.
Pins and food are included in the registration fee. T-shirts are $15
each, in advance.
Pre-registration is encouraged to
ensure that riders are able to get T-shirts. We will leave from the
State Capitol and end the ride at the Police Memorial Wall in a
small park at the Police Academy in Monmouth. The ride will be
followed by a memorial service and roll call. Afterwards we will
have a BBQ and a raffle drawing. We’d like all law enforcement
officers who ride to participate in our Memorial Ride. The proceeds
will benefit Concerns Of Police Survivors (COPS), and the Make A
Wish Foundation. The Blue Knights is an International Law
Enforcement Motorcycle Club, comprised solely of active and retired
police officers. For additional information, please contact: Larry
Cole at l.cole1@comcast.net phone (541) 738-2405 or Louise Schuening
softailrider6@yahoo.com phone (503) 585-5114.
2004 OPOA Taining Conference
NOTE: Date Change -
Conference dates: September 29 - Oct 1, 2004
Location: Newport Best
Western Hotel in Agate Beach, Oregon
The conference format is 3 all-day sessions presented by trainers
and investigators. Three topics will be covered this year. First the
Christian Longo Homicide Investigation presented by the Lincoln
County Sheriff's Office. Second, Methamphetamine Lab Recognition by
Det. Bob Johnson of the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Third, a
thought provoking and eye-opening training by Lt. Col. Dave
Grossman. Grossman is the author of several books dealing with the
psychology and affects of aggression and violence that has taken
over the country in the last 30 years. (see the review of his book
"On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill" below.)
Additional conference information can be found in the
Training
page.
In addition to this excellent training, the conference also
features the annual awards banquet. There is someone in your agency
that deserves recognition for acts beyond the call of duty. Nominate
that person for an OPOA award.
Awards Criteria
On Killing: The
Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill
By Dave Grossman
Review From Publishers
Weekly
Drawing on interviews, published personal accounts and academic
studies, Grossman investigates the psychology of killing in combat.
Stressing that human beings have a powerful, innate resistance to
the taking of life, he examines the techniques developed by the
military to overcome that aversion. His provocative study focuses in
particular on the Vietnam War, revealing how the American soldier
was "enabled to kill to a far greater degree than any other soldier
in history." Grossman argues that the breakdown of American society,
combined with the pervasive violence in the media and interactive
video games, is conditioning our children to kill in a manner
similar to the army's conditioning of soldiers. "We are reaching
that stage of desensitization at which the infliction of pain and
suffering has become a source of entertainment: vicarious pleasure
rather than revulsion. We are learning to kill, and we are learning
to like it." Grossman, a professor of military science at Arkansas
State University, has written a study of relevance to a society of
escalating violence.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
PERS Retirees !
A letter forwarded to OPOA:
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for telling me and others about Oregon PERS
Retirement, Inc (OPRI). Many people "have been meaning" to join, and
never got around to it. This group is working for ALL PERS retiree's
AND FURTURE retiree's. They must get frustrated at our lack of
interest. When you join you receive a copy of their newsletter.
After reading my first newsletter I am writing to encourage you to
again tell others about this.
Here is only some of the important information that they sent.
OPRI has about 8600 members. (707 members were dropped for lack of
dues in 2002 and 1458 people are not paid up for 2003). OPRI cannot
operate without dues and they are so CHEAP....$5.00 a year. Lifetime
membership for $50.00. If we want them to fight our battle, as they
did in 1992, 1995, and 1996, they need money NOW, in the form of
dues and DONATIONS to their legal fund (OPRLF).
The current lawsuit severely affects our pension. The litigation
fund did fine on the first call for $60,000, but on the second call
for $50,000 they have only received $17,000. Only 1500 members have
contributed to the litigation fund. Good lawyers cost about $250 per
hour. There are about 30,000 retirees who have or will have retired
between April 1, 2000 and April 1, 2004. These retirees are affected
by the actions of the legislature. If we can't pay the attorney's
the lawsuits will get dropped. The OREGON Supreme Court appointed a
special master to this case and he is meeting with opposing
attorneys and reviewing documents NOW [2003]. It cost money for
depositions and arguments about discovery.
The most recent fight is over our COLA's. They make a huge
difference in our pension over a lifetime. The legislature has
stopped paying COLA's for a certain period of time and to a select
group of retiree's. What is to prevent the legislature from
repealing the COLA statute in the future for ALL retiree's? A
pension without a COLA is a VERY poor pension.
This not a ho-hum drive for money. OPRI is involved in a dogfight
for US! They need us and we need them. Please, please contribute
what you can IMMEDIATELY. We cannot expect "the other guy to do it
for us". Please pass on this mesage to others Our PERS pension
depends on it. For example $2500 pension- $50 COLA, capitalized over
10 years, I/you lose $31, 238. Or a $3500 pension-with a $70 COLA,
capitalized over 10 years, I/you lose $43,720.
There are approximately 96,800 retirees. $50 a month is $600 per
year times 96,800. That's $58 million per year. Big bucks are at
stake and PERS retirees/and future retiree's are the chief whipping
boy right now! For more information about OPRI visit the
www.opri.org.
Thank you. Lynda Estes, Retired Clackamas County Sheriffs Office
THANK YOU
The Oregon Peace Officers Association and the staff of the Oregon
Peace Officer would like to thank the owners and the management of
911 Distributors for their ongoing support over the last 14
years. You may have noticed their advertisement in the newsletter,
but you probably did not know that their support paid for a great
portion of the newsletter costs. This allowed the OPOA to use your
membership dues for training and other benefits. I'm told many
factors were taken into account but the decision was made to close
the business. We thank them for their support and hope that their
future endeavors will be profitable ones.
Oregon Medical Marijuana
Act: Federal vs. State Law
Where Does Your Department Stand?
by Wendy Svaren, Lake Oswego PD
The Oregon Medical Marijuana Act creates a cause for concern for
Oregon Law Enforcement Agencies when they find themselves in
possession of marijuana from a registrant of the OMMA program.
The conflict comes when an agency is asked by the registrant or
their attorney to return the marijuana. Under Oregon Law, ORS
475.323 "usable marijuana and paraphernalia used to administer
marijuana that was seized by any law enforcement office shall be
returned immediately upon a determination by the district attorney
in whose county the property was seized, or his or her designee,
that the person from whom the marijuana or paraphernalia, used to
administer marijuana was seized is entitled to the protections
contained in ORS 475.300 to 475.346". This portion of the statute
also requires marijuana in the possession of a law enforcement
agency under these circumstances "not be harmed, neglected, injured
or destroyed while in the possession of any law enforcement agency".
While we are not required to maintain live plants we are required by
this statute not to destroy the marijuana and at times to return it.
This puts departments at crossroads between state and federal
law. While we are required by state law to return marijuana in
certain situations, we still do not have authority or a waiver, to
return marijuana under federal law. This of course places agencies
in a situation where we just can't seem to win. Administrators will
have to decide which road your department will take on this issue.
Most departments that I spoke with have stated that they will abide
by federal law and not distribute marijuana or paraphernalia under
any circumstances. This may result in "tort" claims against the
department for failure to return marijuana but that is a risk they
are willing to take until federal law gives us guidance one way or
another. Great care needs to be taken before seizing marijuana from
registrants or applicants. Sometimes it is out of our hands as far
as making a decision whether or not seize. This is true when
arresting someone who has a warrant and the individual has his or
her "medicine" on board. The jails will not accept it so property
rooms are often left holding the marijuana. Departments should have
clear guidelines for officers that come across situations involving
a person in possession of marijuana that either has valid, current
registry as a patient, primary caregiver or anyone who claims
medical use. There should also be a decision made on how to handle
marijuana once it does come into police custody.
It is important to mention that just because a person is a valid
registrant of the OMMA program this does not give them a "carte
blanche" to possess and use however and whenever they deem it
necessary. Under ORS 475.316 the criminal law "exception" does not
apply if:
Driving under the influence of marijuana
- Using marijuana in a public place, in public view, or in an
adult or youth correction facility; "Using" includes merely
possessing marijuana. (Section 3 (7) of the Act). Literal
application of this definition would prohibit a patient or primary
caregiver from transporting marijuana from place to place, even
though the person is properly registered and the quantity being
transported is within the permissible limit. Therefore in
consultation with the appropriate prosecuting attorney, law
enforcement agencies should adopt policies for officers to follow
when a registrant is contacted in this situation. (taken from
Attorney General Recommendation for Implementation)
- There are additional disqualifying acts related to delivery,
manufacture and exceeding the amounts to possess that are not
outlined here.
Under these circumstances the Attorney General's office
recommends law enforcement agencies consult with the appropriate
prosecuting attorney on how to proceed. Below are several websites
that may assist your department with drafting a policy and/or
training bulletin regarding the OMMA.
Recommendations for the
Implementation of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act
www.doj.state.or.us/medmar.htm
Human Services Hotline
for verification of registrant (503) 731-4833
Human services will not
speak to any federal agents, ORS 475.331 (2) b
You will be required to
give your first and last name, department and badge number when
making inquires.
DHS will only verify
information. They will not give out any information you don't
already have.
www.dhs.state.or.us/publichealth/mm/index.cfm
Submitted by: Wendy Svaren Oregon Association of Property &
Evidence Officers
Svaren@ci.oswego.or.us
May is National Police Month
There are
over 800,000 police officers (which makes over a million "peace
officers") protecting the people and the property of the citizens of
the United States. The month of May has been set aside to remember
those men and women, and to recognize the contribution they make
every day to the safety and security of our society. The Oregon
Peace Officers Association in cooperation with the National Law
Enforcement Memorial Fund also wish to recognize those peace
officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice; who have lost their
lives during the performance of their duties.
Officer Roll Call
May their
memories not be forgotten, nor the principles for which they died. |
