JoCo Sheriff Says Surveillance Cameras Turned off, Contract Cancelled
Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel has announced the surveillance cameras contracted through FLOCK, have been turned off and the contract with that company has been cancelled.Sheriff Daniel, in a press release dated August 12th, stated that as a result of significant public feedback, the automated license plate readers are no longer active in rural Josephine County and the contract with FLOCK has ended. While the company's equipment remains in the field the cameras are no longer operational. Some of the equipment has been vandalized meaning the Sheriff's office will have to pay for that equipment. A contract for 10 cameras was entered into to increase the ability to identify/locate stolen vehicles, wanted or missing subjects associated with a specific vehicle and in general enhance the ability to investigate crimes. While the technology has been beneficial in solving crime and overall public safety, it is clear much of Josephine County is not ready or willing to accept the use of the technology. There has been a great deal of public concern over this technology and its potential infringement of Constitutional 4th Amendment rights.Sheriff Daniel wrote in the release that the Sheriff's office works for the public and they are listening to you. The FLOCK equipment remains in the field and it is unknown when the company will remove it. ...Read more

Authorities Capture Anthony Teal After Negotiations-UPDATED

Authorities capture Anthony Teal Tuesday after a manhunt had been in progress since July 30th. According to a Grants Pass Police Press Release, early Tuesday it was suspected Teal had been in the Cloverlawn area. Later in the afternoon, a resident near Cloverlawn reported someone was likely in his RV. Josephine County Sheriff’s deputies cautiously made contact with the RV and discovered Teal had barricaded himself in the RV’s bathroom. Deputies immediately attempted to negotiate with Teal to surrender. After a prolonged period with no signs Teal would voluntarily exit, chemical agents were introduced into the RV. Negotiations continued. Teal was taken into custody without further incident. The Grants Pass Major Crimes Unit is conducting a further investigation. He is currently being held in the Josephine County Jail facing ...Read more

60% Containment on Fork State Park Fire as Crews Complete 80-100 Feet Mop-Up

The Fork State Park Fire is now at 60% containment and remains at 11 acres per the Oregon Department of Forestry. Firefighters have completed mop-up between 80 and 100 feet into the interior and continue systematically gridding and searching the burned area to ensure heat is found and extinguished as they work farther from the perimeter. Overnight, three 20-person hand crews, three Type 6 engines, two water tenders, and a falling resource were assigned to the fire. The same level of resources are planned for the day shift as firefighters continue increasing containment. Temperatures over the next several days are expected to remain cooler than when the fire started. The official cause of the Fork State Park Fire remains under investigation. ...Read more