Category Marion & Polk County
Marion County to take over Polk sheriff patrols on Willamette River
After funding changes at the Oregon State Marine Board, Polk County has terminated its patrol on the Willamette and Marion County will assume responsibilities.
Salem leaders and service providers found in violation of ethics law over inadequate meeting notices
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission issued letters of education to directors on Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance board for failing to give the public adequate notice about their meetings.
Staff shortage delays revival of Marion County’s police crisis response team
Marion County officials had planned for a sheriff’s deputy and behavioral health worker to start responding together to crisis calls by July 1. A worker recruited for the team resigned last month, delaying its operation by several weeks.
Marion County a hotspot for federal immigration enforcement requests, report shows
Marion County officials received the most federal requests for immigration enforcement out of all Oregon counties over the past year, according to a new report by the state Criminal Justice Commission.
UPDATE: Marion County adopts budget that will spend less by trimming vacant jobs
Next year’s Marion County budget will cut vacant jobs and rely on savings to reduce the annual budget by almost $36 million. Marion County Commissioners voted to adopt the new budget at a Wednesday meeting.
Revolt by Oregon counties delays state behavioral health changes
State health officials want counties to focus mental health spending on criminal defendants, but counties say vulnerable people would lose access and suffer as a result.
Voters reject levy for Polk County Fairgrounds renovations, upgrades
A majority of Polk County voters have rejected a levy to fund renovations at the Polk County Fairgrounds, initial results show. County election results show that 60% of voters voted against the bond.
Keizer man gets 6 years for sexually abusing 5-year-old in West Salem
James Madden pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a child under his care. He had already been required to register as a sex offender after being convicted by a military court in 2019 of possessing child pornography.
Marion County plans to revive police crisis response team by July
Marion County commissioners last December approved a federal grant to bring back a crisis response team that pairs a sheriff’s deputy with a mental health worker, but unexpected costs and hiring delays have pushed back the crew’s work.