Summer 2003
OPOA Newsletter
Vol 29 No. 2 ~ Summer 2003
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
President’s Message
by Brenda George, Myrtle Creek P.D.
Hello, and welcome to a new year with OPOA. The conference is over, and we had some great training. As you all know, part of the OPOA Conference is the Awards Banquet, with acknowledgments given to all types of law enforcement throughout the year who have excelled in and above the call of duty. Congratulations to all of the award recipients. Each year it is totally amazing to listen to the stories of these officers and to hear of their courage and heroism in protecting the citizens of their communities. You will be able to read about many of them in the newsletter in the Award Winning People section. Again, congratulations to you all.
Also, I would like to thank all of the supervisors and administrators who attended the banquet and supported your officers and the Oregon Peace Officers Association. Your turnout at the OPOA Awards Banquet in support of your officers is always appreciated by OPOA, but it is never forgotten by the officers who receive their awards, and know that their supervisors and/or administrators are there behind them.
This year your OPOA officers are compromised of myself, 1st Vice President Willie Setzer, Corvallis Police Department, 2nd Vice President Rick Igou, Independence Police Department, and Treasurer Steven Piper, Gresham Police Department. OPOA board meetings are open to any OPOA member, and are held once a month at the DOJ office in Salem at 10:00 am on the 3rd Friday of each month. Please feel welcome to attend anytime, your input is essential to OPOA.
OPOA continually strives to provide the best training at their conference, and throughout the year. OPOA has approximately 1000 members, and continually monitors and helps initiate legislation for the betterment of law enforcement, and maintains an active training program for all law enforcement. This covers all types of law enforcement, including telecommunications, and corrections. It is a workable program for both management and line officers, and as the state is continuing to legislate and demand more training and less money, we have become, and will continue to be, forefront in the training in all facets of the law enforcement community. As budgets are getting tighter, and more training is being required by the state for re-certification of all law enforcement, OPOA can and will be a leader in this area. Every year we increase our membership, and strive to include new subchapters, and welcome a chance to provide training that is needed in any area of the state. Please contact us if you have a particular topic that you would like to have training for. OPOA welcomes the opportunity to have you as a member. Please contact us via the web site if you have any questions, at info@opoa.info.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Robbery/Homicide Training
by Sally Jo Donahue, Linn County Sheriff’s Office
The OPOA Training Conference in Bend was a success. The robbery homicide subchapter hosted training on Human Remains Detection, by NorthWest Search Dogs. Daren Bledsoe, president of NWSD, along with his HRD (Human Remains Detection) dog Tara, and NWSD members Stephanie Jones and Tami Bledsoe presented some very useful information. Daren explained the difference between a Cadaver dog and a Human Remains Detection dog. He explained the difference between cross trained dogs, and dogs trained for a specific purpose. Demonstrations were performed both in the classroom, as well as outside. Daren also explained how his volunteer organization works, how to call them out, what to expect, and what services they can offer. This was very informative. Linn County has used NorthWest Search Dogs successfully on two homicide investigations. The handlers and dogs are very professional, well trained, and very easy to work with.
The Robbery Homicide Subchapter held our annual meeting at the conference. Subchapter Officers were elected. I will continue for a second year as president. Joe Goodale will continue as secretary/treasurer. Vice president is Craig Vogt, from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
This coming year our subchapter is planning to organize a few one day training classes. We are open to your suggestions, and will gratefully accept assistance in organizing these classes. Bob Stai from Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Willie Setzer and Mark Posler of Corvallis Police Department, and Scott Shelton from Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office have offered to assist with our upcoming trainings.
Please contact any of us if you want to help, or have ideas. You can find out more on the OPOA web site at http://www.opoa.info/subchapters.htm .
AWARD WINNING PEOPLE
The following are just some of the awards presented at the annual awards banquet in Bend, on May 9, 2003. Congratulations to these and all of the award recipients - you are truly heroes!
Medal Of Honor / Purple Heart
Detective Michael W. Durr
Oregon State Police - John Day Office
On Sunday, February 17, 2002, Detective Michael Durr was responding to a reported double homicide in Long Creek, Oregon, when he received information that a Grant County Deputy had spotted the suspect near the Mount Vernon area. With the assistance of three deputies, they attempted to stop the suspect.
A gun battle ensued, which left two county vehicles disabled. Detective Durr continued to pursue the suspect by himself on a rural road south of the area. As they approached a bend in the road the suspect pulled his vehicle broadside and fired numerous rounds from a 30-06 rifle. Detective Durr was struck in the right bicep by one of the bullet fragments. A second fragment struck him in the chest and was stopped by his bullet-proof vest - that shot could have been fatal.
Detective Durr was able to exit his vehicle and find cover while working his way back to a county deputy, who was arriving at the scene. Detective Durr was life-flighted to Bend and underwent surgery for his wounds.
Detective Durr’s actions pushed the suspect into a rural area, which eliminated any escape route. By his actions, he prevented the suspect from coming into contact with other law enforcement officers or citizens that would have come into harms way if they had crossed his path. The suspect was captured as a result of a week-long manhunt.
Detective Durr’s heroism in the face of great danger prevented any further injury or loss of life. The suspect is currently serving two life terms in an Oregon correctional facility.
Medal Of Honor / Medal Of Valor
Deputy Morris Taylor Corporal Jeff Aalberg
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
On Saturday, September 14, 2002, at approximately 7:40 am, Deputy Morris Taylor responded to a non-emergency public indecency call at a small motel located along Interstate 5, in a rural area of Douglas County. Deputy Taylor made the initial contact with the suspect and returned to his patrol vehicle to call dispatch.
Corporal Aalberg arrived on the scene and approached the suspect who was standing outside the motel room near his vehicle. The suspect was initially cooperative, and had no weapons on his person. Corporal Aalberg could observe no weapons in the trunk of the suspect’s vehicle.
Deputy Taylor completed the citation and walked back to where the suspect was standing. Deputy Taylor asked the suspect for a consent search of the vehicle trunk for firearms.
The suspect reached up towards the trunk lid, in what appeared to be a movement to close it. Instead he reached inside the trunk and pulled out a .44 caliber lever-action rifle which had been concealed by a blanket. Both officers immediately drew their firearms and began to fire.
Deputy Morris Taylor was fatally wounded by shots fired by the suspect and died at the scene.
The suspect who had a history of resisting arrest, assault to a police officer, and was under the influence of meth, also died at the scene.
Deputy Morris Taylor and Corporal Jeff Aalberg both distinguished themselves by performing heroic acts in excess of normal demands of public service on this date. They each were fully aware of the imminent threat, yet continued to respond for the safety of the public.
Corporal Jeff Aalberg was awarded the OPOA Medal of Valor, and Deputy Morris Taylor was posthumously awarded the OPOA Medal of Honor and the OPOA Purple Heart.
Medal Of Valor / Medal Of Honor
Tactical Negotiations Team - Washington County
Sergeant Willie Bose - Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Sergeant Greg Kisor - Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Sergeant John Koch - Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Corporal Grady Nelson - Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Ty Hanlon - Beaverton P.D.
Officer Kevin Winfield - Tualatin P.D.
Sergeant John Marshall - Hillsboro P.D.
On January 5, 2003, Forest Grove officers were called to investigate a report of an armed man making suicidal threats. The officers found him barricaded in the bedroom of his residence. The subject brandished a handgun at them and threatened to shoot if they did not leave. Officers also noted a shotgun and a rifle in the room. The officers left the residence and called for the Tactical Negotiation Team (TNT).
Upon arrival the TNT members formed a response team, and took up positions around the residence. The suspect began randomly firing shots from inside the residence. The situation escalated when the suspect began targeting the individual officers. More that 30 rounds had been fired at the officers and surrounding residences.
An armored vehicle known as “The Boar” was called in to distract and draw the suspect’s fire. Sgt. Marshall and Corporal Grady Nelson drove “The Boar” into the gunfire using ballistic shields for added protection at the windows. It was not known at the time if “The Boar” could sustain high caliber rifle rounds, but Sgt. Marshall and Cpl. Nelson deployed the vehicle to aid their fellow officers and block the line of fire from the surrounding residences.
The suspect came out of his residence aiming a handgun and rifle at the officers. The subject ignored repeated commands to surrender the weapons and continued to challenge the officers to kill him.
The suspect fired the rifle at the officers. Officer Hanlon returned fire, but suffered a weapons malfunction. The suspect fired again, and Sgt. Kisor moved from his position of safety and fired one round, killing the suspect.
For professional performance in a dangerous and life threatening situation OPOA awarded:
Officer Ty Hanlon, the Medal of Valor Officer Kevin Winfield, the Medal of Valor Sergeant Willie Bose, the Medal of Valor Sergeant Greg Kisor, the Medal of Valor Sergeant John Koch, the Medal of Valor Sergeant John Marshall, the Medal of Honor Corporal Grady Nelson, the Medal of Honor.
Medal Of Valor
Sergeant Brad McMurrian
Officer Brian Bottoms
Prineville City Police Department
On August 14th, 2002, at approximately 3:50 am, Sergeant McMurrian and Officer Bottoms responded to a residential structure fire in the City of Prineville, Oregon. The residence was that of Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Brown, his wife Tiffany, and their three children.
Upon their arrival, they saw smoke and flames in the basement through an open garage door window, with flames shooting six to seven feet high.
Knowing the family was in immediate danger, they proceeded into the burning residence and were able to extinguish the flames in the basement with a fire extinguisher and garden hose.
Their actions saved the residence and possible the lives of the five persons. It came to the attention of the officers that the fire was caused by an act of arson. With some excellent observations made on the part of these two officers the investigation resulted in the arrest of three suspects within 72 hours on several charges including Attempted Aggravated Murder of the Brown family.
For bravery and service over and above the call of duty, OPOA awarded Sergeant Brad McMurrian and Officer Brian Bottoms Medals of Valor.
Medal Of Valor
Officer Rick Jackson
Pendleton Police Department
On Tuesday, September 18, 2001, at approximately 7:40 am, Senior Trooper David Schuening and Pendleton Police Department Officer Rick Jackson responded to an agency assist call from the Umatilla Tribal Police Department, regarding a subject who stated he was going to kill himself.
Senior Trooper Schuening and Officer Jackson responded, along with the Umatilla Tribal PD, to the residence located on the Umatilla Tribal Indian Reservation east of Pendleton. As they entered the residence the subject was located in the living room, sitting on the couch holding a knife.
The subject then jumped up and stated he was going to kill the officers. A standoff then occurred. The subject advised the officers that they should go ahead and shoot him, because he could kill them before they could stop him.
Senior Trooper Schuening and Officer Jackson observed the subject place the knife in his waistband as he talked with the Umatilla Tribal Officers, and he appeared to be calming down. After approximately 40 minutes the subject got up and walked over to the Umatilla Tribal PD officer and extended his hand, as if to shake hands.
The subject instead grabbed the officer and pulled him towards his body. The officer was unable to break free of the hold, when the subject grabbed the knife from his waistband and raised it up in a stabbing motion.
Senior Trooper Schuening and Officer Jackson rushed into the room, grabbed their batons, struck the subject on the arm attempting to knock the knife from his grasp.
The officer was able to wrestle himself free from the subject, and the knife was knocked to the floor. He was then taken into custody without further incident.
A fellow Police Officer was in imminent threat of serious physical injury or death from the subject, who himself was also prevented from doing physical harm to himself by the actions of Senior Trooper Schuening and Officer Jackson. In effect Officer Jackson and Senior Trooper Schuening saved two lives that day.
Senior Trooper Schuening was awarded the OPOA Medal of Valor at the 2002 Awards Banquet.
OPOA recognized the part played by Officer Rick Jackson and awarded him the Medal of Valor.
Medal Of Valor / Purple Heart
Deputy Debbie Myers
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
On December 12, 2001, while attempting to perform an eviction during the normal course of her duties, Deputy Myers was wounded by shots fired from the person she was attempting to evict. The landlady involved and standing nearby was also wounded.
Deputy Myers calmly and professionally directed the residents of the complex behind her to return to their homes and lock their doors, and then she assisted the wounded landlord to a position of safety.
Deputy Myers secured the area and kept the suspect in her sight with her weapon drawn, until the backup officers were able to relieve her so that she could be transported to the hospital and treated for her wound.
The officers arriving on the scene commended the deputy for maintaining the scene, protecting the public, and being prepared to continue to do so until they were able to take over.
Deputy Myers had remained in mortal danger from a possible lethal assault from the suspect. Deputy Meyers put the public’s safety ahead of her own, while performing her duty in the finest tradition of law enforcement and in the bravest manner possible.
Medal Of Valor
Deputy Bill Jordan
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
On April 7, 2002 Deputy Jordan and officers from the Woodburn Police Department responded to shots fired at the Woodburn Fairway Inn Motel. It was reported that a male had barricaded himself in one of the rooms, and had fired several shots through the walls into the surrounding rooms.
Upon arrival, the suspect was known to Deputy Jordan, and he established phone contact with the subject in an attempt to use communications to calm the subject.
For several hours Deputy Jordan stayed on the phone with the suspect. During this time, several more rounds were fired by the suspect. At one point, the suspect ran from the room into the parking lot which was surrounded by residences and businesses. In the parking lot, the suspect began firing rounds from a handgun into the air, and in the direction of Deputy Jordan.
Deputy Jordan advanced his position under cover while still maintaining a dialogue with the distraught subject. During this conversation, the subject stated that he wanted the police to shoot him.
Disregarding the suspect’s wishes, Deputy Jordan continued talking to the suspect and when the SWAT Team arrived on the scene and prepared to engage the subject, Deputy Jordan was able to talk the subject into surrendering peacefully.
This violent incident came to a nonviolent conclusion due to the patient actions taken by Deputy Jordan.
See a complete list of the 2002 Awards Recipients and 2003 Awards Recipients
