Sheriff makes suggestions to handle firearm discharge issue

Crook County Sheriff Jeff Hodge attended last week's meeting of the Pine Haven Council to address questions and concerns previously shared with Deputy Cody Lenz regarding the possibility of contracting with the sheriff's department ordinance enforcement and the rather more pressing issue of discharging firearms in town.

Lernz was able to answer in part but, after discussing the matter with his superior, the sheriff wanted to speak to the council and answer in more depth.

The first topic was the enforcement of ordinances, "We don't do that. We aren't enforcing ordinances for multiple reasons," he said.

However, Mayor Karla Brandenburg assured him the town has hired an individual to enforce ordinances and they have a judge available to follow through with upholding citations; particularly, at this time, dogs at large, as the town has experienced a number of problems in this matter.

She did, though, ask about any concerns he may have when delivering a citation or discussing a matter with a potentially uncooperative resident, questioning, "If he would like an officer to go with him when he goes to a house, all he has to do is call your office?"

Hodge replied, "If he does not feel comfortable, absolutely... If they want us to go along with them, we'd be more than happy to go along with them."

The sheriff acknowledged a contract into which the department has entered with Sundance, and said of the situation, "We're there 365 days, every hour of the day... We just don't want to be sending deputies running this way for a dog at large call all the time."

This department's assistance may be appreciated in the future as he suggested the town create an ordinance regarding issue of discharging a firearm in town.

"Your town is getting enough populus, I don't know why you would be shooting a gun in city limits," he said.

The mayor suggested in support of the reckless endangerment law she and Deputy Lenz had previously discussed, "If they're shooting a gun, they're obviously endangering someone."

Hodge, speaking from years of experience, stated, "Not necessarily, you'd have to prove it [and] it's not that easy a case. Even out in the county there was a case that we've worked where somebody was, they claimed, shooting over the head and the [other] guy's claiming bullets were whizzing over his head, but it's their word against their word and when you go to court, there's no physical evidence so, in my opinion, your best option is just to do an ordinance."