Bleeding Blue
By: Coos Co. Sheriff Gabe Fabrizio – I wanted to take a moment and share with you, my bosses, the work we have been doing to improve public safety in Coos County. Over the past six months we have experienced a lot of successes, and some difficulties as we move forward under my term as Sheriff. First, I want to express the pride I have for my staff, they have been working hard to implement the vision we have for the Office, and we have been having some fun in doing it. As I always like to end things on a good note, I am going to share with you some of the challenges we have been experiencing and then share with you some of the successes. The past six months have not been without their challenges. As many of you know, Measure 114 may dictate a large amount of unfunded mandates to the office when it comes to the permitting of firearms. While this measure is being challenged in both the federal and state courts, it would be imprudent of the Office to not consider how we would conduct this permitting and, more importantly financially support it. We are looking at software options which would allow you, the public, to schedule times to do the permitting, and assist with payment options and so forth which could be done on line. We have not yet implemented this as we are waiting to see what is going to happen in both state and federal courts with this measure. Recently, the medical provider for our jail has informed us they intend to terminate their relationship with not only our county, but several other throughout the state of Oregon. This created difficulties for Coos County Sheriff’s Office to provide required medical services within the jail for all inmates. The county has been paying a little over one million dollars per year for this service. This is not without a silver lining as we have likely found a replacement company to take over this vital service to the jail with little to no added cost. We have been working diligently to get our jail back open to 98 beds. The Coos County Jail is currently funded to support 98 beds; however, the difficulty lies in hiring and retaining qualified personnel. We have hired several people into the Office, however, with the attrition rate, it often seems we are just breaking even. Since January 1, 2023, we have had several people leave the office either to retirement, or more prevalently to higher paying jobs. While we strive to offer a fair pay rate and benefits, our Deputies are payed ten percent below the average within the state of Oregon and our Sergeants are about eighteen percent below the average. The deputies we have are the folks who are invested in our community, they want to be here, they are proud of our office and our community and we are lucky to have them. However, when it comes to hiring it is a challenge to compete with other agencies, even within our own county. Coos County recently completed a budget process which revealed a 2.68 million dollar shortfall between the cost of doing business and the funds which are available. To put this in perspective, property taxes for the county bring in about 6.5 million dollars; the Jail alone costs about 7 million to operate per year. The Criminal Division which houses our patrol deputies, contracts, detectives and records operates around 4 million dollars and the Administrative Division which houses Dispatch, Civil and Animal Control operates at about 2.5 million dollars. The cost of doing business is high. Much of these funds are tied up in insurance, personnel and equipment costs. Remaining costs are gained through grants and contract programs, for which we are very thankful. Our state legislature often gives us mandates with no way of funding them. For example, the office is now required to become accredited by July of 2026, which will cost the county about $6000 per year just for the accreditation. This does not calculate in the personnel and equipment costs associated with getting the office to the point where we meet the requirements. I certainly have no issue with ensuring we meet a standard, but am worried about the time and resources needed to annotate what we are already accomplishing or working towards. The Criminal Division is also short staffed. Currently we are running two Deputies per shift who are responsible for handling calls throughout the county. I am sure you can see and understand the difficulties there. Ideally, we would want to afford time for our deputies to spend more time on calls, investigating them and bringing offenders to justice. However, I share their frustration in the sense that it seems we spend a lot of time just taking the calls which are consistently stacking up behind us. I want to provide a better service to this county and we can only do that by continuing to hire and get people in patrol cars. From my perspective, the biggest internal challenge we have is in hiring and retaining personnel due to our wage scale. But, as you can see, this is a complicated problem that we are working through. We are bleeding our blue out to other agencies in the county and the state and it is something we are going to need to figure out to keep these qualified people here in Coos County. Thankfully, the commissioners are huge advocates of public safety, and are we are working together towards solutions. One of the biggest external challenges we have remains to be the ready access to illicit drugs, and the lack of prosecutorial capability due to Measure 110. We have formed and are forming increased ways and means to fight against the incursion of drugs which are severely harming our county. This is an ongoing priority that we simply cannot let lay idle. I don’t want to leave you with simply negative concepts, so lets talk about some of our successes. We have worked with our local agency partners and have opened the jail up for booking. While this is not a perfect solution as we would really like to house people who commit crimes, it is a step forward. Our peace officers now have a way to remove people who commit crimes from the situation they are in and bring a consequence. We have had some success in hiring. Currently we have three patrol deputies attending the state Law Enforcement Academy in Salem. By all accounts they are doing well and we look forward to getting them back in September. We have another Deputy who will be leaving for the academy this coming July with a return date in November. We have several corrections deputies who have been hired and we have some in the hiring process for whom we have high hopes. I will take a moment and promote our office in saying that we are hiring, if you are interested in a career in Law Enforcement, please apply! The Office recently completed a complete audit of our evidence room which revealed some issues, but the great news is that this process provides a path forward and makes us more efficient in our processing of evidence. Our county commission has been very supportive of the office and we made it through our budget process efficiently. One of the items I am excited about is our wellness program. Captain Sanborn has applied for a federal grant which will financially supplement this program which focuses on the physical, mental and spiritual well being of our staff, their family members and retirees for two years post retirement. The rigors of law enforcement are demanding and my staff frequently have to experience and see things on a regular basis which are traumatic. We are developing and refining our peer support program and have partnered with a company which will provide culturally competent clinicians to counsel staff on a telehealth platform. I am excited for this as it takes care of the people who take care of you. One of my priorities has been to bring a different level of transparency to you. To let my bosses, the public, know what I am doing. To that end, we have assigned the duties of Public Information Officer to Sergeants Adam Slater and Chris Gill. These men have done a phenomenal job of pushing information out to the public to let them know what is going on and more importantly what we are doing about it. This is a program which we are going to continue to develop as time goes on. I want to provide you with timely, relevant and informative content which you can use to understand what my office is doing for you. I view our efforts in this arena as a large success and am glad to be able to bring this information to you for your perusal. In closing, I am very proud to be your Sheriff. I am, as I hope you are, proud of this office and what it means and stands for within our community. There is something special about being Sheriff in that it is the only law enforcement position written into the state constitution. We are working hard to continue to build and bring you the law enforcement services you deserve and need. If ever you wish to contact me, please stop by the office, or say hi to me when I am out and about. My email address is gfabrizio@co.coos.or.us. The coffee is always on in my office, though I cannot vouch for it’s quality! It is an honor to serve you.
Seal Pups & Beach Speeding
CCSO release – Date / Time: June 3, 2023; Classification: Marine Life; Location: Horsefall Beach; Please leave seal pups found on the beach alone, as their mothers will return for them. If you locate a seal pup on the beach please leave it alone as its mother will be back for it. Several seal pups are reported each year as “abandoned,” however, the mother has just gone hunting for food to feed the pup and will return to retrieve her little one once enough food has been obtained. Today Deputy M.R. Smith found a seal pup on patrol where someone had placed driftwood around it, likely thinking that would help protect it. Please refrain from doing this, as the mother may be confused when she returns to pick up the pup. Please remember that this is a natural yearly event on the Oregon Coast. Please also remember that the speed limit on beaches in Oregon is 25 mph.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (ODNRA)
CCSO release – The Coos County Sheriff’s Office actively patrols the ODNRA within Coos County, and we would like to take a moment to address our riding community and visitors to our area as we enter the summer season. The Dunes are a family-friendly recreation area, and to keep things safe and enjoyable for all, we would like to provide some information for review as the season kicks off. Alcohol is prohibited anywhere on the Dunes, whether in an opened or closed container. Feel free to enjoy a beverage at camp, but not while riding, and please don’t ride after drinking. The level of attention required to operate an off-highway vehicle (OHV) safely is much higher than a passenger vehicle on a paved road; even one drink can impair your ability to ride safely. The US Forest Service and Coos County have decibel limits on the Dunes. Many aftermarket exhaust systems will likely place your vehicle over these limits. The Coos County Ordinance restricts sound from all OHVs to 97db or less. The presumptive fine for this violation is $1000. Please respect the sound limit requirements, as keeping the sound limits in this range secures the future of this great riding area. If you want your vehicle tested for decibel levels, contact the Sheriff’s Office at 541-296-7800, and we will be happy to test your vehicle for you. All-terrain vehicle (ATV) operating permits (Stickers) are required for all public land off-road use in Oregon, including the ODNRA. The permits are valid for two years and cost $10.00. The permits are available to purchase online at: https://store.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=v.dsp_item&itemId=100 Safety Flags are also required on the Dunes; the flag must be red or orange and 9ft high while the vehicle operates. This critical safety item allows riders to see each other at different elevations as they travel through the Dunes. We love our Dunes and our riding community. Our primary goal is to keep the Dunes safe and enjoyable for all. See you on the sand!
WD 40 Attack, Barview
CCSO release – Date / Time: June 3rd at 3:41 p.m.; Case Number(s): S23-12619; Classification: Domestic Harassment; Location: Martin Drive, Barview; Suspect(s): Wayne D. Wood (70). Man arrested on domestic harassment after spraying WD-40 on a woman. On June 3rd at 3:41 p.m., the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of a disturbance in progress on Martin Drive in Barview. Dispatch further advised that the 911 caller stated she would be lit on fire. Deputy J. Gray responded and immediately smelled a chemical consistent with WD-40 on a woman inside the residence. Through an investigation, Deputy Gray learned the suspect was Wayne D. Wood (70) of Coos Bay. Wayne was transported to the Coos County Jail on the charge of domestic harassment, where he was booked and remains in custody.
Assault, Centennial RD.
CCSO release – Date / Time: June 3, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.; Case Number(s): S23-10542; Classification: Assault IV (Domestic); Location: Centennial Road, Coos Bay; Suspect(s): Thomas L. Shupe (42). 911 call resulted in a man’s arrest on outstanding warrants and domestic assault. On June 3rd, 2023, at 3:00 p.m., the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a call of a disturbance in progress on Centennial Rd near Coos Bay. Deputy H. Francis arrived on the scene and spoke with the victim, who was bleeding from a laceration on her cheek, which required medical attention. A suspect was identified as Thomas L. Shupe (42). Deputy Francis located Mr. Shupe sleeping in a bedroom of the residence. Dispatch advised that Mr. Shupe had valid outstanding warrants for his arrest. Mr. Shupe was placed under arrest and charged additionally with Assault IV Domestic. Mr. Shupe was transported to the Coos County Jail, where he was booked and remains in custody.
Reckless Endangering, Bandon
CCSO release – Date / Time: June 2, 2023, at 2:51 p.m.; Case Number(s): S23-12523; Classification: Reckless endanger Another (x4) and Reckless Driving; Location: Hwy 42S & 2nd St SE Bandon Oregon; Suspect(s): Leah M. Gitter (54). Woman arrested in Bandon after nearly striking several people with her vehicle on a sidewalk. On June 2nd, 2023, at 2:51 p.m., the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center dispatched Bandon Police to a report of a reckless driver near the intersection of Hwy 42S and Hwy 101 in Bandon. It was reported that the vehicle drove onto the curb and nearly struck several women on the sidewalk at the location. Officer E. Owens from the Bandon Police Department and Deputy H. Francis responded to the area. Officer Owens located the vehicle on SE 18th Street while Deputy Francis responded to take witness statements. The vehicle’s driver was named Leah M. Gitter (54) of Bandon. Deputy Francis developed probable cause for the arrest of Mrs. Gitter on the charges of reckless endangering x4 and reckless driving. Deputy Francis had to clear from the call for another emergeny call on Coos River Hwy and requested Officer Owens to place Mrs. Gitter under arrest on the charges above. Officer Owens transported Mrs. Gitter to the Coos County Jail, where she was booked and later released on her own recognizance.
Assault/K9 Track North Coos River
CCSO release – Date / Time: June 2, 2023, at 3:21 p.m.; Case Number(s): S23-12545; Classification: Assault IV (D) / Strangulation / Unlawful Use of a Weapon; Suspect(s): Alan J. Moorman (61); 911 call leads to K9 track and arrest of Coos Bay man. On June 2, 2023, at 3:21 p.m., the Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a report of a disturbance in progress involving a weapon near milepost 20 on N. Coos River Hwy. Deputy H. Francis and Trooper Waldrop from the Oregon State Police responded to the scene. Upon arrival, the suspect, Alan J. Moorman (61), had fled from the location on foot. Deputy Francis developed probable cause for the arrest of Mr. Moorman on the charges of assault IV domestic, strangulation, and unlawful use of a weapon. Coos County Sheriff K9 Cena was called to the location to conduct a criminal apprehension track for Mr. Moorman. After a 250-yard track, K9 Cena located Mr. Moorman, who was taken into custody without incident. Mr. Moorman was transported to the Coos County Jail, where he was booked and remains in custody. This successful track marks K9 Cena’s 30th capture as a Coos County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit member.
Warrant Arrest, Whiskey Run
CCSO release – Date / Time: June 2, 2023, at 11:56 a.m.; Case Number(s): S23-12492; Classification: Warrant Arrest; Location: Whiskey Run; Suspect(s): Chakara R. Hoyle (31). Woman arrested after deputy stops a vehicle for traffic violations. On June 2nd, 2023, at 11:56 a.m. Deputy H. Francis was patrolling the area of Whiskey Run north of Bandon, where she observed a white Pontiac committing several traffic violations. Deputy Francis conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the parking lot of the Whiskey Run Mountain Bike Trailhead. During the contact with the vehicle, Chakara R. Hoyle (31) told Deputy Francis she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. The Coos County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center confirmed the warrant, and Ms. Hoyle was placed under arrest. The vehicle was secured on the scene, and Chakara R. Hoyle was transported to the Coos County Jail, where she was booked and later released on her own recognizance.