Demanding Accountability

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Short and Sweet

Dear Editor:

Dave Daniel has been a total failure as Sheriff. Brian Anderson is his under-sheriff and has assisted him with all the abuses. Either Spike Kelly or Gil Gilbertson would be a breath of fresh air and they would eliminate the huge financial burden placed on tax payers by the Daniel/Anderson regime.

Sincerely,

Dave Myer
Josephine County

Insurance Companies and Bad Attorneys

To the Editor:

Personal injury attorneys are needed to protect individuals from being taken by the bad insurance companies and others.

Some insurance companies will do everything possible to cheat the injured parties out of due compensation. Some insurance companies are forthright and will do the right thing. Personal injury attorneys will NEVER admit this as they want their clients to believe all insurance companies are the bad guys, thus justifying their fees. The more money they can force insurance companies to pay, the more money they will make from their percentage of the reward. Ever wonder why insurance premiums are so high? Few personal injury attorneys choose their occupation as a means to protect the injured parties from unjust compensation. Most are in it for the money and will do everything possible to convince their clients they are simply looking out for you. Their motivation is greed and they pass the greed mentality on to their clients.

The less scrupulous attorneys, often referred to as ambulance chasers, will delay settlements, keeping their clients from receiving the reasonable compensation they are due, solely as a ploy to increase the reward.

Be aware...

Jim Jay
Josephine County, Oregon

A Good Sheriff For a Change

To the Editor:

As a life-time resident of Josephine County I have observed first-hand many law enforcement personnel come and go.

Through the years the Oregon State Police have consistently been an honorable agency of highly trained officers who are respectful and courteous to the public.

Many citizens now have a negative opinion of some police agencies. This poor public perception is the result of a few disrespectful, arrogant and sometimes physically abusive cops on a power trip with a badge and gun. It is also the result of JoCo’s current sheriff who has lied to the public and totally mismanaged our tax dollars.

The most important asset that a police officer must possess is honesty. If the citizens do not trust or respect or are afraid of law enforcement because of the abuse and disrespect of a few officers, the whole police force is crippled.

The most powerful law enforcement officer is the county sheriff. Because he is elected by the people he has the authority to arrest any state or federal employee who violates the constitutional rights of the citizens of his county. I want a sheriff who will uphold his oath of office and defend the citizens of his county against any unlawful encroachment by outside forces, while maintaining an honest and respectful group of deputies dedicated to public service. Sheriff Dave Daniel has not been that man and his under-sheriff Brian Anderson has not been either.

Gil Gilbertson is the most highly qualified and experienced law enforcement officer to ever run for sheriff in Josephine County. He is also a man of deep moral convictions and integrity and he is a strong supporter of the second amendment. We are fortunate to have a man of his caliber running for sheriff in our county.

C. R. Pearce
Josephine County

Wildlife Control Through Public Sentiment

Dear Editor:

Those who voted for Measure 18, which prohibited the only valid control of mountain lions by the use of dogs in actuality voted for a completely uncontrolled and unrestrained lion population.

The lion population is now out of control and is decimating the deer and elk herds in many areas. Because of our growing population and the decline of natural prey species the incidents of attacks on humans is increasing every year.

If those who voted for Measure 18 are serious about not killing any lions or having any real control of lions then the following plan could be made into law and the cougar management problem will be solved.

When wolves were re-introduced into Idaho the ranchers were allowed to receive compensation for damage and loss of livestock to wolf predation. Why shouldn’t the same program be implemented for damage and/or loss of life of a person by a mountain lion? After all, human life is of much more value than a sheep, cow, horse, etc. At least it is to those who would lose a precious member of their family.

If the government feels it is responsible for the loss of livestock because of their management program of wolves then those legislators or agencies who drafted and voted for Measure 18 and all who voted for it should be held accountable in the event that a cougar kills or damages someone.

I don’t know what value most people place on their loved ones but I don’t believe any of mine are worth less than fifty million dollars for starters.

Except for the loss of quite a few children, some adults and the complete decimation of deer, elk, turkeys, etc., I believe this would be a workable program.

Sincerely,

Jack Abernathy
Sunny Valley, Oregon

Bogus Daily Courier Cougar Editorial

To the Editor:

Dennis Roler’s editorial published in the April 15th edition of the Daily Courier needed to be radically edited by someone able to tell the truth about the cougar issue. Roler sits in an office most of the time and is reported to have never hunted cougar…Where does he get off offering unfounded, sympathetic dribble to the eager masses?

Roler’s bias and bitter sarcasm against hunters was all too obvious. Quote – “Voters thought it unsportsmanlike for the majestic animals to be chased and treed by a pack of yapping dogs, then blasted from their shelter in the limbs by man.” Anyone who knows the least bit about cougars (that leaves out Roler) knows that the only successful way to harvest the serious over-population of cougars is with the use of hounds. When Roler’s so called “majestic animals” are treed and shot they are killed quickly and humanly, a far cry from the vicious, terrifying, unprovoked attack and killing of a human by a lion.

Cougar attacks on humans were almost unheard of years ago because the lion was not allowed to over populate their normal mountain habitat and food supply. Roler states that not one person has been attacked by a cougar in Oregon. Apart from this statement being a false assumption on Rolers part, does he really believe the cougars that attack humans in Colorado and California are somehow different than those in Oregon? The fact is people have been stalked and attacked in Oregon and it’s only a matter of time before the media gets a hold of such an event and makes it public. It’s also just a matter of time before a child or even an adult is attacked and killed in Oregon, if it hasn’t already occurred. Numerous children and even adults have disappeared in Oregon’s wilderness areas and predation in many cases is almost a certainty.

The deer population in Oregon isn’t 20% of what it was many years ago. Just ask any hunter who has lived and hunted here for the past 50 or 60 years. When the lions have finished off what’s left of the deer, elk and wild turkey populations, then Roler’s majestic mountain lions will be real hungry. If Roler has any children or grandchildren, would he trade one of them for all the lions in Oregon? Maybe he would!

The stockholders of a major corporation are not allowed to tell the corporate managers how to run their business because they are not professionals. The average Oregon voter has little or knowledge of wildlife management or predator control and it’s appearing that ODFW is falling into this same category. The important issue of wildlife management should be under the control of professionals who are trained and educated in true wildlife management instead of being controlled by the general public who have no understanding or knowledge of the issues.

Sincerely,

Erwin Lee Ruby
Josephine County, Oregon

JoCo Sheriff’s Office – Wasted Tax Dollars

To the Editor:

I have seen articles in other papers recently where Sheriff candidate Brian Anderson proudly touted the OAA accreditation of the Sheriff’s Office as a good thing. I beg to differ. As stated, Josephine County is “one of only three sheriff departments to be accredited” and there is a reason for that! Why do you suppose none of the larger counties in Oregon have bothered with the process? Accreditation is a huge waste of time and resources on an already strained budget. All accreditation shows is that an agency has a policy to cover its list of requirements…not what that policy consists of. It can be a lousy policy, as long as it is written down and kept in a binder somewhere. Employees don’t have to agree with, or comply with, these policies…they just need to know where the binders are kept.

Two different lieutenants (one of them Brian Anderson pre-Undersheriff days) were assigned full time to this process for three years…while they continued to receive full pay & benefits. A waste of over $180,000. The annual fees are over $2000, plus assessment fees while being reviewed were also in the thousands.

Ultimately it comes down to bragging rights and a photo op for Dave Daniel. It is all smoke and mirrors. It gave an embattled Sheriff a small opportunity to get some “feel-good” press. Just like another of the three accredited Sheriff’s Offices in Oregon…Deschutes County.

Deschutes is a prime example of accreditation being only as good as the paper it’s written on. According to The Bend Bulletin (reporter Lisa Rosetta), since 2001 seven Sheriff’s Office employees have either been charged and convicted of crimes or are currently under criminal investigation. The charges run from trespass and embezzlement to assault, sex abuse and drug crimes. Current Deschutes Sheriff Les Stiles has admitted that his predecessor had a history of failing to address issues. He says, “The concept of ‘sweep it under the carpet’ comes to mind, or just ignoring it.” Doesn’t this sound familiar Josephine County?

Brian Anderson has been an integral part of all major decisions at the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office for the past eight years. At a speech in Cave Junction last month he openly took credit for complete control over the budget for the past eight years. So why have we been paying Dave Daniel’s wage all these years? He and Daniel have functioned as one unit…corrupt and incompetent. On May 16th I’ll be voting for Spike Kelly for Sheriff. He knows all about the waste and dishonesty and is fighting to change it! Vote Kelly for a better Sheriff’s Office.

Christa Damron
Grants Pass, OR

Our Votes Don't Count

Editor,

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission's approval on Thursday to overturn the voter approved Measure 18 (twice approved) was reflective of the importance that we, the voters, have in this state. This measure had made it illegal for hunters to use dogs or bait in hunting bears and cougars, for humane reasons. Both the dogs and the prey can get mauled, besides being very unsportsmanlike.

ODFW states that there are too many cougars now and that they pose a danger to domestic animals and people but there has not been one single report of an attack to a person in Oregon. In the present law it is allowed to kill, using bait and/or dogs, an animal which has attacked or killed livestock. Why do we need to allow hunters with dogs to go after them for trophies?

In the 1970s when they stopped paying bounties for cougars the cats were on the verge of extinction. Now the cats have a healthy population. The figure of 5100 cougars is only an educated estimate and the figure of 3000 is the MINIMUM of cougars they think should be allowed. So why kill 2000?

Could there have been pressure (and donations) from hunting club and livestock lobbyists which influenced this decision? This measure should be put on the ballot so the people can decide.

John and Carol Ahlf
Sunny Valley, Oregon

Edward Snook’s Note: I humbly ask our readership to please excuse the above letter as it was written by two friends of mine after they had inadvertently fell off a pumpkin truck just before their writing. We had been out looking for cougar tracks with hounds and the terrible fall apparently jarred something loose in their usually clear minds. We wish John and Carol a speedy recovery and look forward to future cougar hunts with them.

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