The Association of Oregon Counties and the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) have joined in a strategic partnership with 15 Oregon Counties to hire six regional public safety coordinators. Federal grant funding will allow the six coordinators to work for three years in the following counties:
Jefferson/Crook
Polk/Yamhill
Klamath/Lake
Josephine/Douglas
Umatilla/Morrow
Wasco/Hood River/Sherman/Wheeler/Gilliam.
The coordinators will work with all public safety stakeholders in each county through the Local Public Safety Coordinating Councils, also known as “LPSCC’s”.
In 1995, the Legislative Assembly enacted Senate Bill 1145 for the purposes of expanding and strengthening Oregon’s community corrections system. One component of SB 1145 required that every county in the state establish a LPSCC to:
- Coordinate justice policies and operations among local governments, public safety agencies and community organizations;
- Collaborate in planning and developing improvements in the county’s criminal and juvenile justice systems;
- Reduce crime and recidivism in the county.
The role of the new LPSSC staff includes performing such activities as meeting planning and facilitation, information sharing, research and analysis, strategic planning and resource development. The new staff will work for each individual LPSCC to assist all partners in improving the local public safety system. The staff will report to, and work directly for, each county LPSCC – AOC and CJC will provide technical support and training for the coordinators.
“We are excited to launch this pilot program and help rural counties in Oregon take the next step in advancing best practices in public safety,” said Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Hall, who is serving as AOC President.
“Oregon has already made great strides as a result of our statewide engagement in Justice Reinvestment. With the addition of these coordinators, we look forward to increasing our support of the local collaborative efforts of public safety stakeholders at the ground level,” said Bob Ball, chair of the Criminal Justice Commission.
The six new LPSCC coordinators are:
Ian Davidson (Polk/Yamhill counties) most recently worked for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board and the Bonneville Power Administration. He also worked as a legislative assistant to State Representative Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, and was the administrator for the House Committee on Rural Communities, Land Use, and Water during the 2015 legislative session. Davidson has a Master of Public Policy from Oregon State University and earned his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University.
Shelley Ena (Umatilla/Morrow counties) has served as the Morrow County site manager for the Washington State University, Tri-Cities Early Outreach Office GEAR UP Program since Aug. 2014. She is the former director of the Umatilla County Commission on Children and Families and worked at the Umatilla County Department of Health & Human Services as the prevention programs coordinator. Ena has a background in education and earned her bachelors degree in secondary education at Eastern Oregon State College.
Ken Fahlgren (Jefferson/Crook counties) served as a Crook County commissioner for eight years and was liaison to the Crook County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council. Prior to serving as a commissioner, Fahlgren owned and operated Prineville Motor Supply for over 20 years.
Melissa McRobbie (Josephine/Douglas counties) served as the communications coordinator for Securing Our Safety in Grants Pass and worked as reporter for the Grants Pass Daily Courier covering public safety issues. McRobbie is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Robert Mulcare (Klamath/Lake counties) is a reserve lieutenant with the Klamath Falls Police Department and executive director for the Basin United Soccer Club.
Jessica Rose (Wasco/Hood River/Sherman/Wheeler/Gilliam counties) worked as a committee assistant for the Senate Committee on Judiciary in the 2016 legislative session. She is a former workers compensation and disability attorney. Rose earned her law degree from Florida State University. She earned her undergraduate degree from Murray State University.