Did You Know...

10-18-07 On Tuesday October 9th there was a very profound television program called "Crystal Darkness" that I hope many of you were able to watch. It was a poignant documentary about the continued effects that Methamphetamines have on our children, society, and families. If you weren't able to see the program the Vernonia Police Department has ordered a copy of the DVD and will be teaming up with the Community Drug-Free Coalition to show the documentary again. The VPD also has a copy of "Crystal Misery" a documentary produced in Washington County using subjects and events involving meth from the local area. We will be presenting this film as well in the near future. Meth labs are not as prevalent anymore but the effects of meth use are worse than ever. If you need information on the effects of Meth or would like a list of Meth resources for Columbia County there are resource lists at the front window of the station and a "Meth Resources" link on the VPD website at http://vpd.vernonia-or.gov I was recently approached by The Independent and told that there has been several negative comments being made in the community regarding the police vehicles. I too have heard comments but they have been positive in nature. In the three years and six months I have been Police Chief in Vernonia I have not only maintained an open door policy for the community but have tried to make my department as transparent as possible. Everything that has been done in my department has been done to enhance police services in the community and to support fiscal responsibility. With this in mind I will endeavor to discuss the current patrol vehicle fleet and the rationale behind it. The VPD currently deploys a 2001 Ford K-9 car, 2004 Ford, 2006 Ford, 2007 Dodge, and a 2007 Ford SUV. We also have a 1999 GMC SUV we lease from the State of Oregon but it will be returned as soon as the Ford SUV gets equipment installed. When I arrived in May 2004 the VPD has the 2004 Ford, a 1997 Ford that did not run, a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina, and a 1996 Jeep. We have acquired several free vehicles over the last two years including a 2000 Ford from Lake Oswego, a 1999 Ford from St. Helens, and a 2000 and 2001 Ford from Hillsboro PD. We just acquired a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe from Hillsboro that replaces the K9 car which is in need of some repairs. With each of the "free" vehicles I have learned that the "free" does not mean "free" taking into account that on each vehicle equipment needs to be installed, they need to be painted or decals need to be installed, and the fact that ALL of these vehicles, thus far, developed major mechanical problems. In 2005 we decided to try a leasing program with the State of Oregon when we leased a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe K-9 vehicle and a 1999 Chevrolet Camaro which was a quasi-DARE car leased by the Lion's Club and other donations. The problem with the lease program is that we are still responsible for all maintenance and repairs under strict State guidelines. Both of these vehicles ended up requiring some substantial repairs due to their age and we subsequently returned both of these vehicles to avoid any further major bills. In 2006 we leased the 1999 GMC SUV after retiring the 1996 Jeep following a major repair. The Jeep was subsequently transferred to Vernonia Public works. The State of Oregon announced a change in their lease rates so I met with the previous City Administrator to propose a new fleet program for the VPD. The new program started to replace the older/used fleet with new vehicles that are under warranty. The vehicles would be leased as a package that included all of the equipment. The older vehicles would be sold if viable or disposed of if not. Most agencies then retire the newer vehicles at the end of their warranties and can sell them for decent prices. The leases also included adding video cameras to the patrol vehicles for documentation of incidents, accidents, and for the protection of the officers and citizens. All of the equipment as well as the vehicles have factory warranties which greatly reduce maintenance/repair costs. The new vehicles are also offer greater fuel efficiency. The Dodge Charger has V6 with the power of a V8 but gets 20 to 27mpg compared to the older Fords getting 10-17mpg. The Ford SUV gets 17-25mpg compared to 8-12mpg for the GMC Suburban (2500). Besides the cost savings of the newer vehicles there is a pride factor for both the officers and the community. I have had numerous visitors comment on the professionalism of the VPD which I know is attributed in large part to the well-maintained vehicles. The number of vehicles allows officers to have a unit at their home for direct responses to call-outs. Without 24/7 coverage officers often need to respond from home. An emergency call-out would a greatly reduced response time if the officer needed to go to the station, obtain a vehicle with the needed equipment, then respond to a scene. The take-home vehicle allows for an immediate response with little delay. All of the choices for the VPD fleet have been made with responsibly and in conjunction with the City Administration/budget committee. If you have questions about the fleet or any other aspect of the VPD I encourage you to call me at 503-429-7335 or email me at chief@vernonia-or.gov