MGx - Musings, Essays & Ballads

Dian Courtright, founder of Concerned Citizens of Coquille, a human rights advocacy group borne out of public frustration with the local police department last summer has thrown her hat into the ring for city councilor. Four positions are up for renewal, Corky Daniels, Kathy Hagen, Fran Capehart and the mayor’s position held by Steve […]

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Coquille Mayor Steve Britton was interviewed by KCBY regarding the new police chief and comments on a phone call from Concerned Citizens of Coquille.
So far, he says, the department is excited to have him on board, as well as local residents, including one group in particular. They called Britton to tell him that they are […]

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Mike Fjelt volunteers to be tasered by Officer Bryant to demonstrate the effects of this practice.

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The decision has been made, an offer tendered and accepted by Mark Dannels from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Dept in Arizona. He hopes to be settled and on the job before the school year begins.

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Hiring the new police chief is of great importance to everyone so naturally there was almost no members of the public attending the interviews yesterday at City Hall. Dian and I as well as Jean Ivey from the paper tried to catch each interview as they were staggered throughout the day. Two other […]

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Had an opportunity to meet the candidates for police chief this evening and like three, in particular. Two of the candidates, one from Colorado and the other from Nevada are actually retiring from other positions and view the job as a potential retirement job. The gentleman from Colorado is well educated and had […]

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At 5:30 today at the Coquille Community Center you can meet the five candidates selected by City Manager O’Connor to be the new police chief. Be there or be square….

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Alas, it seems the city council is in lock step with the city manager regarding a more representative hiring committee. Disregarding the obvious impact that the hiring will have on ALL citizens the suggestion of having a wider group including younger committee members was answered with silence by the council.
Afterward, Mayor Britton suggested that […]

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Well, as one might imagine it was a very emotional event as about thirty people or so gathered to remember Leah Freeman. The wind impaired the candlelight a bit but people rallied to keep their candles going as attendees spoke about their memories and impressions of a beautiful young woman.
Music played and tears flowed. […]

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On Saturday, June 28 at 8:30PM come and join the celebration of the short life of Leah Freeman. A candlelight vigil will be held at the corner of Hwy 42 and N Adams Street across from Safeway. This marks the 8th anniversary of her murder at the age of 15. Her murder […]

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Am very pleased to report that several people have submitted letters or stopped by The Sentinel to pick up a form letter to apply to be on the hiring committee.
We should really start drafting a list of the qualities we hope to see in a new police chief. Beyond the obvious legal requirements for […]

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The city manager came through at last and a copy of the police policy and procedure manual is now available at the library. You can fight city hall and win one occasionally!

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The suggested select hiring committee for the new Coquille Police Chief is not, in my opinion, representative of the community. In addition to two city councilors, the mayor and a representative from the school district and district attorney, the two (why only two?) committee members from the citizenry at large are likely to be […]

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At the special city council meeting this evening, Terence O’Connor, promised to provide a copy of the PD policy and procedures manual(redacted, of course) to the library. He promised to have a copy available at the library by tomorrow morning! He also advised that the city policy and procedure manual was already available […]

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Should you have any comments regarding the new budget, this is your big opportunity to talk to the council. Of course, the only copy of the proposed budget available is in the paper since the City doesn’t like making public information easily available to the public.
But give it a shot and be there at […]

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