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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Roseburg thrift stores deluged with trash ... Rogue Valley residents inspired by Pope Francis' speech ... Brush with Kindness ... Roseburg thrift stores deluged with trash ... Rogue Valley residents inspired by Pope Francis' speech ... Brush with Kindness ... Crime is up and many crimes have gone uninvestigated, he says Josephine County sheriff appeals to voters for funding Comment By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Apr. 23, 2015 at 5:12 PM By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Apr. 23, 2015 at 5:12 PM » Social News Sheriff Dave Daniel said it's a myth that crime in Josephine County has declined, a myth perpetrated at a tax forum two weeks ago. In a news conference at the county jail, Daniel asserted that many crimes have gone uninvestigated since funding for public safety in the county collapsed in 2012, and he pleaded for help with the upcoming tax levy vote, the fourth in three years. "Here in Josephine County, we're in crisis. We're operating at a fraction of a work day, with five deputies total, two or three on any given shift," Daniel said. "Outside the city of Grants Pass, only suspects alleged to have committed serious crimes are put in jail. "In June 2012, your sheriff's office suffered massive funding reductions, leading to never-seen-before layoffs," he added. "We're struggling to provide any level of adequate service, leading to an increase in crime." According to data released by Daniel, activations of the Oregon State Police Major Crime Team in Josephine County increased by 850 percent between 2011 and 2013. Daniel also asserted it's a myth that most of the crime occurs in Grants Pass, rather than in rural areas of the county, leaving less need for law enforcement in those areas. In the Cave Junction area, crime incidents reported in 2015 are 183 percent above the same period last year, with more than 60 reported at the Cave Junction substation, compared to fewer than 40 a year ago. "The residents of the Illinois Valley feel it tremendously. I hear and feel their frustrations daily," Daniel said. OSP has had to pick up the slack, with 782 calls in Josephine County in 2014 compared to 467 in 2012, leading to less ability to handle traffic incidents and enforce drunken driving laws, Daniel said. Daniel also offered that from 2009 to 2012, Josephine County's rank in property crimes among 36 counties jumped from 13th to seventh. Perhaps the most telling numbers do not exist at all, Daniel added, calling unreported crimes the dark figure of crime. "People give up and don't report," he said. In closing, he put out another plea to county voters. Appearing with him at the news conference were Grants Pass police Chief Bill Landis and OSP Capt. Ted Phillips. "Your Josephine County Sheriff's Office needs your help. We need your help as a county of one, not a county divided." Reach reporter Jeff Duewel at 541-474-3720 or [email protected] By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Jeff Duewel Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Apr. 23, 2015 at 5:12 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501