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M/CLOUDY Temp: 41 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Saturday, December 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend December 8, 2002 OSP faces loss of detectives if tax hike is rejected In Southern Oregon, that means that many sex crimes against children will fallto understaffed sheriff’s departments By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune The victims of one of Southern Oregon’s most horrible types of crimes may be the hardest hit by looming Oregon State Police budget cuts, officials said. Facing a possible statewide budget reduction of 8.8 percent next year, the OSP regional command center has planned to slash its criminal investigation division if voters don’t approve an income tax increase in January. Gone would be OSP’s investigation of child sex abuse in Southern Oregon. Of the 241 cases that OSP detectives investigated last year, 97 involved child sex abuse, rape or child pornography. The cases made up about a quarter of all child sex crimes prosecuted in Jackson County last year, according to records logged at the Children’s Advocacy Center. The bulk of OSP’s work falls to three detectives who focus on such crimes in addition to investigating murders, major assaults and fatal accidents. All three investigators would most likely be reassigned to patrol next year, leaving a void difficult to fill. "These crimes are not going to go away just because the detectives do," said OSP Detective Maureen Bedell. The only other agency that could effectively do the job in rural Jackson County faces its own budget cuts and is overwhelmed with cases. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department employs one detective, Ron Walch, to investigate sex abuse — about 100 cases each year. He and OSP detectives together handle most Jackson County cases reported outside of city limits or in small outlying cities. "The caseload is phenomenal," Walch said. "To lose a key element of that team is devastating. It would be an incredible burden to us." "We’re totally saturated," said Sheriff Bob Kennedy, adding that his department has its own budget woes and is in no position to hire more detectives. Next year, the sex abuse cases that state police were handling may end up at the bottom of a pile on Walch’s desk. A recent investigation is one example of the type of case that could slip through the cracks if OSP loses detectives next year. When a 17-year-old girl last month reported alleged abuse she suffered more than 12 years ago, the county’s Department of Health and Human Services notified state police. The girl said the abuse took place when the she was 4 and 5 years old in her grandmother’s Rogue River home, said Terry Smith, deputy district attorney. Rogue River police have no one trained to interview children who have been sexually abused, she said. Less than a month after the case was reported, the District Attorney’s Office had charged the husband of the girl’s grandmother. State police arrested the man, who remains in jail on $1 million bail. He was convicted several years ago of molesting the girl’s sister, Smith said. "When a child finally discloses ... (detectives) really need to work with that as quickly as possible," said Beth Heckert, deputy district attorney. Prosecuting child sex crimes in particular often becomes more difficult as times passes and children’s memories fade, she said. And the trauma of a drawn-out investigation on victims of sex abuse may be the worst consequence, Heckert said. "Usually when a child tells, it’s a real crisis time for these families," she said. At the Children’s Advocacy Center, executive director Jane Hamilton agreed, pointing out that her organization also is facing cuts in the wake of state budget problems. "It’s a horrific thing to have funding cut that affects kids, and I don’t think the statistics reflect that," she said. "Where does it end?" Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] State troopers face prospect of layoffs By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune If Oregon’s budget crunch doesn’t ease, hundreds of the state’s police will be laid off next year, officials have said. Approximately 320 employees of Oregon State Police will lose their jobs if a statewide tax increase is not approved in January. Many troopers will be reassigned to other positions according to seniority. In the Southern Oregon region, 49 employees in seven counties will be laid off, said OSP Capt. Eric Rodriguez. To best respond to emergencies, state police officials have made maintaining patrols a priority, Rodriguez said. If the agency follows through with proposed cutbacks, its criminal investigations divisions will be the hardest hit. In Central Point, nine detectives, including a sergeant and lieutenant, now investigate major crimes across Southern Oregon. They also offer the area’s only polygraph operator and specialist in computer crimes. In February, four detectives would be left. One detective and a lieutenant would most likely have the means to investigate only "public confidence" cases — involving other police agencies or public officials — and crimes committed in institutions, Rodriguez said. The office’s two arson detectives would remain because their positions are paid with taxes on fire insurance premiums, not the state’s general fund. "You can’t lose these experienced detectives without having this ripple effect throughout the community," Rodriguez said. The losses will have the largest impact in the region’s more sparsely populated counties, officials have said. In Klamath, Lake and Curry counties, few cities have police departments, and the sheriff departments’ resources are limited. The Klamath County Sheriff’s Department employs four detectives. One county over, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department has none. "It’s really a devastating blow," said Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger, adding that his department calls on state police weekly, particularly in cases of child sex abuse. A Klamath County deputy is now in training to handle child sex abuse cases, Evinger said. But as with other sheriffs in the region, Evinger is concerned that his department simply can’t absorb OSP’s caseload. "My biggest concern is children are going to be in even more danger than they are now," he said. "We’re not going to be there as quickly to stop the abuse." Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S