Sheriff: '8 hours every 24 hours where there is no patrol on duty'
»Play Video
EUGENE, Ore. - Just over 20 people showed up to the Hilyard Community Center Thursday night for Lane County Sheriff Tom Turner's Community Awareness Meeting. The goal? Inform the public about how the Sheriff's Office operates despite its budget issues.
Crime rates, jail beds and volunteer opportunities - nothing seemed off the table for discussion, including questions like how many patrol deputies are on the street at a given time.
"We average 3 on day shift and 3 on night shift," says Captain Byron Trapp, "But night shift doesn't go all night and day shift doesn't start early enough, so there is 8 hours every 24 hours where there is no patrol on duty."
A lack of deputies is certainly a concern, especially for the deputies themselves. Serving an area as large as Lane County can be a challenge for so few bodies on the street.
The Lane County Jail was also a popular topic. Sheriff Turner adressed the issue of why the Springfield jail is not utilized more to make up for a lack of beds. He explained that Springfield only houses misdemeanors and only healthy males.
Despite all the issues the Lane County Sheriff's Office faces, due almost entirely to funding, many who attended the meeting simply wanted to know the Sheriff's stance on Gun Laws.
"I am trying so hard just to keep our agency afloat," says Sheriff Turner. "This is the last issue that I'm concerned about."
The Sheriff stood by the statement he released earlier that said "while I understand the sense of urgency on behalf of citizens, I believe that any reaction, any decision or response to issues that impact the rights of all people should be done so without haste and after careful consideration. Ultimately, it is the Supreme Court, not any individual, that determines the constitutionality of any law."
While he did not avoid anyone's questions about his stance, Sheriff Turner did attempt to keep the focus on the main message of the meeting.
"Without any new revenue source we will simply be gone," explains Sheriff Turner, "And that is unacceptable to me because we need to be able to provide public safety here in Lane County."
Sheriff Turner plans to hold many more meetings in the future. He believes that in order to move forward the community will have to come together to help find a solution.
This is an excerpt from this article: "A lack of deputies is certainly a concern, especially for the deputies themselves. Serving an area as large as Lane County can be a challenge for so few bodies on the street."
Â
Well if this be the case, then why don't you the Sheriff and deputies volunteer to fill those eight hours as to protect the citizens of the community you are so afraid for?
Â
The number of deputies you have would be plenty to extend their shits for another two hours as to cover this gap.
Â
Of course you won't do this because you are only fear mongering in order to exert public pressure and to get that coveted money to continue the status quo of unlimited over time and law enforcement toys!
Â
The reason law enforcement all over this country doesn't have money is because they have spent every dime as it comes in, thinking its an endless tree of money. There was never a conscious decision to save money for a rainy day! And guess what it's pouring! No, you in management will never stand up and take responsibility for your actions, it's always someone else's fault unless its a citizen where you will nail to the wall if they screw up!
Â
This article goes on to say: "Ultimately, it is the Supreme Court, not any individual, that determines the constitutionality of any law."
Â
Actually it is up to the citizens to protect themselves if the government fails to do so! This Sheriff ought to read the constitution! And it's also up to the people to take over the government and form another if the government fails to do their duties for the people!
Â
This is why the second amendment was created in the first place Sheriff!
Â
The arrogance is simply amazing! "Do as we say not as we continually do"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Â
Stop bitching and do the job you were hired to do, and the job you took an oath to uphold!
Â
Â
This is one of the most mis managed cities I have ever lived in. Â Can not wait to move. Â It will be tough everywhere, but this city is a lost cause. Â Have fun people.
 @2buckÂ
Â
Absolutely! Â But hey, we are going to have a homeless camp to go along with the other 'programs' that are sucking the funds and LIFE out of this city. Â Kitty Litter got her wish, and the city is suffering as a result.
What a joke...no deputies but you don't want us to have guns so we can protect ourselves and or families from the criminals that are being let out of jail weekly! Hahahaaa!!!!
Hey, I think it âs great that you (Sheriff AND media) announce to all and everyone (INCLUDING all those criminals out there), just HOW many and when you patrol  so they can be where you arenât (and that is pretty much everywhere, I know) . Thanks for giving them a heads up. WE ALL know that things are tough, but to tell the hours, (early shift/late shift, etc) you patrol is irresponsible, to say the least.
To say that you are to the point of  incompetency is a laughable  understatement. That you are regurgitating the stuff that the governmental idiots are spouting regarding gun laws and âwe need more moneyâ would be laughable too, if it werenât so infuriating to our freedom and the fact that WE, THE PEOPLE ARENâT MADE OF MONEY like you seem to think. We WONâT be bullied into giving you more when you so clearly donât use what you have responsibly. AND that you  plan to usurp the freedoms given  us in the Constitution and other documents written by our Founding Fathers, who left an entire CONTINENT TO GET AWAY FROM THE ABUSES OF POWER IN THE GOVERNMENT, just like you are beginning to here.Â
What is really sad? We have some very fine deputies working for Turner.. whom I am sure..do not share his sentiments about gun control or his expenditures. It is sad that they have to suffer behind a person who only cares about what his next best interests are, and how he can please those ,whose back pocket he sits in..
You know what? He doesn't care about the public at all. Â I walked out of a Market of Choice in Eugene a couple of months ago, and he was walking out at the same time, not in uniform, but I knew who he was. I asked him a question about Law Enforcement and he mumbled something under his breath and kept walking. Didn't give a rip. I am glad he is not MY sheriff!
If our federal government is not going to enforce the boarders and illegal immigration. Why should we the people and law enforcement enforce gun control?
Our law enforcement needs better funding. Â Message heard. Â Now we must act on that, by supporting the bond measures and pushing for better allocation of state money to law enforcement. Â It is a basic need of any community.
THINK I WANT TO MOVE TO LINN COUNTY WERE AT LEAST THE SHERIFF THERE IS STANDING BEHIND HIS CITIZENS RIGHTS UNLIKE TUNER HERE WHO COULD CARE LESS HE IS MORE WORRIED ABOUT HIMSELF OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED HIS FAILURE SELF IN
Hey there sheriff Turner tell us something we don't already know ...Like how are you going to FIX the problem?
Let the public become cops on patrol. They can hire new state police troopers but nothing for Lane County !!
Whats wrong with this picture people ....Lack of city and county government Fire the lot of them and revote.
Â
Why do the people of Eugene/Lane county keep voting these libtards into office. They keep spending money on things that the most of us don't want like EMX. That is a total waste of money. They let the roads go to hell until they had to start from scratch to fix them. That cost us 4 times the money. It is truly a time for a change.
would you still have a job if you failed as badly as this sheriff ?,if you didnt do what your employer wanted would you still have a job?if you bought new toys all the time (cop cars guns etc) when you couldnt pay to do your job would your employer fire you? so why are we paying him now
 @censoredirawoody The military builds/maintains ships, airplanes and ground vehicles that last YEARS through much more rigorous situations. Yet our law enforcement is lucky to get a couple of years out of a patrol car before going out and acquiring a new one. Something isn't right there.
WELL, you were asking people to show up and have their teeth pulled with no Novocaine.Â
Lane County is messed up, the commissioners failed again to make sure funding was adequate.
And then the Sheriff of Lame county supports the liberal agenda of taking away gun rights when there are no
deputies AT all. Â I don't know of anywhere currently where you pay property tax for deputies and then don't get them.
Â
I own houses in Linn County and Lane and am glad that I live in Linn and appreciate the job Linn County does along with Sheriff Mueller.Â
Â
Turner is a liberal pawn.Â
Epic Fail of the Lane County Sheriff...what a dismal failure...