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Linfield College Public Safety officer convicted heroin possession

Posted by :jprokop On : April 9, 2012
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A Linfield College Public Safety officer, who was arrested Oct. 24, 2011 for unlawful drug possession and was later convicted for possession of heroin during trial, violated his probation set on Feb. 15, 2012.

Aaron Lopez, 31, had been an inactive CPS officer since mid-September 2011 when he was arrested on multiple drug charges as a result of an ongoing investigation by the Yamhill County Interagency Narcotics Team.

Lopez pled guilty to count five, possession of heroin, a Class B felony, during his trial on Dec. 28, 2011. As a result, he was sentenced to 10 days in jail and 18 months of supervised probation.

Lopez’s count six, unlawful possession of methamphetamine was dismissed.

According to court documents, Deputy Twitchell of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office called in the incident regarding Lopez’s probation violation.

Court documents show that Lopez passed out in a friend’s bathroom on Feb. 15. He later admitted on Feb. 24 that he relapsed on Percocet. He said that the prescription was a valid prescription for him, and it was prescribed more than a year ago. However, Lopez said he did not take it as prescribed, as he took four pills at one time. He said the reason he abused the drug was because of the loss of a childhood friend to suicide, in addition to some health issues.

As a result of the probation violation, Lopez waived his right to a hearing in favor of sanctioned recovery support group meetings, three times a week.

Prior to his probation violation and trial, Lopez violated the terms of his Security Release Agreement. Upon Lopez’s conditional custody release, he was required to stay at Thugz Off Drugs.

According to a report from Michael Crites, house manager, Lopez violated curfew and left before taking a urine test.

A warrant was issued for his arrest on Dec. 5, 2011, and he was arrested again Dec. 10. He remained in custody until his trial.

Lopez, who was an officer and dispatcher, had been on CPS staff since August 2010. Previously, he held a job with the Spirit Mountain Casino Security Department in Grand Ronde, Ore., for four years.

He is First Responder certified and was Oregon State Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) certified.

DPSST was notified, leading to Lopez’s suspension.

Lopez’s girlfriend, Angela Shelburne, 23, was charged with unlawful possession of heroin, unlawful possession of methamphetamine, delivery within 1,000 feet of a school and endangering the welfare of a minor, according to court documents.

She pled guilty to one count each of endangering the welfare of a minor and delivery of a controlled substance/heroin, a Class A misdemeanor and Class A felony.

Shelburne was sentenced to 60 days in the Yamhill County Jail. However, she was given credit for time served.  She is now on 36 months of probation.

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Jessica Prokop/Editor-in-chief
Jessica Prokop can be reached at linfieldrevieweditor@gmail.com

Voicing one’s concerns can help spark change

Posted by :jprokop On : February 21, 2012
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Category: Opinion

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Last week, I attended the town hall meeting about the safety concerns that students have about the previous incidents that occurred during the winter break and January Term.

I’ve heard numerous students complain that the school is not helping with this situation.

Their concerns would have easily been addressed if they went to the meeting.
However, only a few students attended the meeting, the majority being residence life advisers and students who live off campus.

As a student body, we worry about getting the best college experience possible. How can we accomplish this if there is no one actually trying to voice their opinion? It becomes harder to show that we actually care if we are not going to these meetings or directly discussing these issues. Our country was not built only on the opinion of a few people. It was carefully constructed on the voices of many.

The more each person complains and does nothing about it, the less gets done. With this new presidential election coming up, our country’s well-being depends on the voices of our citizens. The well-being of our college is based on the voices of our students.

With every dilemma that has come up, there is a way to handle the situation properly. Speak up about it. Don’t just complain to your friends and the people in your halls. The first amendment was established for a reason. Some may say that the school will most likely not listen; however, if a considerably sized majority brings complaints before them, they will realize that this is more than just a small concern.

The school is trying to help but they cannot do so without our assistance. There have been resources created that students are able to use. In order for the school to realize that we actually appreciate their efforts, we need to use them.

As students, the issues that need to be heard should be voiced. Complaining can only get an issue so far if you are not doing anything about it. By attending these events and making a simple statement, or asking a question, the school will see that the students care. Instead, we are showing that these issues are not a big deal.

The few who are trying to save the college experience are trying to be heard but it takes more than a few to make something big happen.

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Ivanna Tucker/Features editor
Ivanna can be reached at linfieldreviewfeatures@gmail.com

ASLC sponsors Community Safety Forum to address students’ concerns

Posted by :jprokop On : November 7, 2011
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Ron Noble, chief of the McMinnville Police Department, talks about how McMinnville police will be assisting College Public Safety in keeping students safe during a community forum Nov. 2 in Riley 201. Joel Ray/Photo editor

Dawn Graff-Haight, professor of health education, facilitates the safety forum in which students expressed their concerns about their safety after the latest assaults. Joel Ray/Photo editor

Students, faculty and staff voiced concerns and asked questions regarding campus safety after the latest campus incidents during a Community Safety Forum sponsored by the Associated Students of Linfield College on Nov. 2 in Riley 201.

Apart from ASLC, Dawn Graff-Haight, professor of health education; Jeff MacKay, associate dean of students; Robert Cepeda, chief/director of College Public Safety; Ron Noble, chief of the McMinnville Police Department; Dan Fergueson, director of College Activities; and the school’s area directors and residence advisers (RAs), were also present at the discussion.

The forum, which was facilitated by Graff-Haight, opened the floor for students to express their feelings and concerns about the student assaults that occurred last month. Students were encouraged to ask questions about the incidents, as well as about the college’s response, Graff-Haight said in an email.

One issue that students raised during the discussion was that the email sent out to parents about the assaults was not clear enough.

ASLC Vice President senior Bradley Keliinoi said that the emails about the incidents could have been sent earlier. Students heard about the assaults through word-of-mouth before the administration had sent anything.

Other students agreed and said that the information in the emails was confusing and vague.

Some of the RAs in attendance said that when approached by students in their dorms, they did not have enough information to give them about the incidents.

Another concern students brought to the forum was a lack of lighting on and around campus.

Keliinoi said that the street leading to the new development area is pitch black at night, and many students have to walk home.

MacKay addressed this by saying that the school does not control the lighting off campus. But, he and Cepeda maintain a good relationship with the city and have sent a request to check if Davis Street is up to standards. He also clarified that anyone with lighting concerns can send a request to the city.

CPS also offers rides to students. Cepeda said the service has been underused so far, and he clarified where CPS’s boundaries are.

Students also suggested creating a cab service for students who go off campus. ASLC President senior Rachel Coffey said that ASLC is looking into it and that students would probably have to pay a small fee.

In the meantime, Noble said that Davis Street is being closely watched, and officers are on overtime patrolling.

Noble also said that students should contact the McMinnville Police Department when they see things happening.

“I think an interesting point brought up during the forum was that there has not been much information provided to the police about the incident,” Graff-Haight said in an email. “[Noble] encouraged students who witnessed the incident to come forward so the police have more information with which to investigate. He acknowledged that students might have been reticent to come forward out of fear of being cited for a MIP. Chief Noble was quite clear that there is no chance that students could be cited, so they should definitely call police if they were there.”

Noble said that although it is up to the discretion of the officer, it is often a matter of priorities. He said that officers often are in the area for other calls, unrelated to students drinking on campus.

Noble stressed that the McMinnville Police Department is not out to get Linfield students. And, calls can be anonymous and confidential.

“It is my hope that the assaults nearly two weeks ago were isolated incidents,” Graff-Haight said. “I’m pleased about the increased presence of police on Davis Street, and I encourage all of us to look out for each other, to be a little more vigilant and if any of us see something that is questionable, we call CPS on campus and the Mac PD when we’re off campus.”

For more information about what was discussed during the Community Safety Forum, visit www.linfield.edu/linfield-review/?p=8560

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Jessica Prokop/Editor-in-chief
Jessica Prokop can be reached at linfieldrevieweditor@gmail.com

Senate discusses variety of issues

Posted by :jprokop On : October 9, 2010
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The Associated Students of Linfield College Senate covered much ground during its Oct. 4 meeting.
“I’m anticipating great things in the month of October from our Senate,” junior ASLC Vice President Katie Patterson said.
Senators voted junior Bradley Keliinoi as president pro tempore.
In this position, Keliinoi will fill in for Patterson in case of her absence. Keliinoi is also the Hawaiian Club senator and Senate Governance Committee co-chair.
The Whitman Hall senator expressed concern about Keliinoi’s other commitments to Senate, but Patterson isn’t worried.
“He knows the standing rules and bylaws pretty much better than anyone,” Patterson said of Keliinoi.
Keliinoi beat out freshman Marissa Cole for the position in a 37-8 vote.
Senate also voted unanimously to approve Communication Board Guidelines. The guidelines govern the relationship between ASLC and campus media: the Review, KSLC 90.3 FM, CAMAS and Wildcat Productions.
The agenda item was presented to Senate last week (Sept. 27) for consideration and went to vote this week.
No discussion of the topic occurred at either meeting.
“I was shocked as well that there was no discussion,” Patterson said.
This was likely either because senators understood the guidelines completely or they did not look at them. Patterson said it would be difficult to determine the reason.
“There’s no way for me to know if the senators are putting in the time to read what I’m sending to them,” she said.
The Campus Improvement Committee received many concerns from the senators on topics such as bike racks, window screens and lighting on campus.
Sophomore senator KarenCole raised concerns about lighting the path to Albertsons, a topic that Senate has discussed in the past.
Senior ASLC President Colin Jones said the school abandoned the project because of a hefty price tag: $15,000.
Patterson said she understands the college’s decision but thinks it’s an issue that needs to be addressed.
“I will definitely be bringing it up with the board of trustees when I meet with them in November,” she said.
Campus Liaison Committee Chair sophomore Wesley Allegre encouraged senators to attend Sodexo Food Committee meetings Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in Dillin Hall.
Allegre said no students attended last month’s meeting.
Keliinoi was curious about how Sodexo publicized the meetings because he had never heard of them.
Publicity Director Bri Reichelt said publicity for those meetings, which is handled by Sodexo, has been limited.
Allegre attended the food meeting Oct. 6 and the only other student to attend was Student Center Director senior Evan Hilberg, he said in an e-mail.
IM Sports Director senior Marissa Van Diest announced the first official tournament to be held on the sand volleyball court, the 2009-10 ASLC Cabinet’s project for campus.
The tournament will take place at 11 a.m. Oct. 10.

Kelley Hungerford/Editor-in-chief
Kelley Hungerford can be reached at linfieldrevieweditor@gmail.com.