Sheriff McKinley reflects on his first year in office

GRANT COUNTY – (Press Release issued by Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley)

“As 2021 draws to a close, along with my first year in Office, I would like to extend my warm appreciation to the members of this great Community that have reached out to me, and this agency. Your input is valuable, and your well being is why we serve.

We have accomplished much this year in the Sheriff’s Office, but I realize, it is only the beginning. There is much yet to be done. Deputy Savannah Wyllie received her Police Officer Certification on October 28th of this year, and we could not be prouder of her accomplishments.

Undersheriff Zach Mobley was given the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association “Presidents Special Recognition” award at the recent OSSA awards banquet in Bend. Congratulations Undersheriff Mobley on your outstanding service as the 2021 OSSA Enforcement Council Chair.

Your Grant County Deputies have attended over one thousand hours of training this year, to remain educated on current law and to maintain their certifications. This is a small part of what we do to be able to continue to serve you well.

The John Day Police Department operations were “suspended” in October, leaving a void in local municipal policing. This has put an undue strain on your current deputies who are scrambling to cover the additional caseloads and calls for service without any additional help.

We hope that a solution will come in the near future, and that public safety does not take the back seat to politics.

Search and Rescue, under the guiding hand of Deputy Dobler, managed some significant multi agency search activity this year. The searches were varied, and all were resolved. Some of the searches were highly technical with multiple ground units, K-9s, ATV, helicopters, airplanes and overhead staff working together as one.

Parole and Probation has undergone some changes, and is being brought under the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Rand was promoted to the Probation Office as Sergeant and Roni Hickerson will be stepping into a Probation Officer role. Corrections Officer Trevar Berry is being transferred to the Patrol division to fill the vacancy created by Sergeant Rands promotion.

The Civil side of our Office has seen a record amount services this year which has kept Deputy Kuhn beyond busy on top of answering phones, issuing concealed carry permits and keeping our paperwork together. She does an incredible job keeping this office afloat.

And as always, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office wishes everyone a safe and Happy New Year.”

Todd McKinley

Sheriff

Download the Sheriff’s letter here:

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