Commission calls for traffic enforcement in TD; Current staffing makes it difficult
File photo - this classic Mustang was hit when a driver blew the stop sign at Fourth and Washington Streets in The Dalles back in September of 2020. The Dalles Traffic Safety Commission is recommending a TD Police officer be dedicated to traffic safety enforcement to deal with blown stop signs, speeding and other violations. However, The Dalles Police Department is struggling to fill vacancies.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Jan. 24, 2024 — Excessive speeds on streets in The Dalles are becoming more flagrant and require a dedicated traffic safety officer, according to Mike Kilkenny.
Kilkenny, who Chairs The Dalles Traffic Safety Commission, told The Dalles City Council that rolling stops, blown stop signs, phone usage while driving and failing to signal were also some of the main issues of concern that come up monthly at Commission meetings.
He made the comments at the regular city council meeting on Jan. 22..
“Until drivers start getting tickets and are hurting in the pocketbook, it is not going to make any difference,” Kilkenny told the council after discussing blinking stop signs downtown.
Kilkenny, reading from a letter from the Commission, asked the council to hire a traffic safety officer that solely focused on such offenses to improve driver behavior, ensuring safety for other drivers and pedestrians.
City Manager Matthew Klebes said the message was not “falling on def ears” as the city continues to recruit additional police officers to get the department up to full staff and provide more enforcement.
Currently, the department has 22 officers - 4 shy of its 26 allotted positions.
“Were building,” said Police Chief Tom Worthy. “We’re not willing to settle on just anyone. We have to find good people. “
This red sedan ended up on its roof after it appears to have driven up the side of a Subaru Forester on East 14th Street in The Dalles early Sunday morning, June 18. No major injuries were reported, but several vehicles were damaged and the driver was accused of reckless driving.
However, 3 officer are on light duty due to injury, one is in training and there is a new hire who still needs to go through the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
Juan Ramos is the newest police officer at The Dalles Police Department. He started on January 19th as the department is working to fill vacant officer positions to keep up with the call and traffic load. “Juan is a resident of The Dalles and graduated from Columbia High School in White Salmon. Juan served our country in the Marine Corps.” the departments Facebook Page announced. “ Welcome Juan!”
Chief Worthy and Capt. Jamie Carrico cover administrative duties a large portion of their time, leaving 14 officers, two of whom are detectives, so the active officers working the street are at 13 currently.
Worthy pointed out that it is not feasible to dedicate one officer to traffic safety when there are multiple calls on the board for crimes such as fraud, sex crimes, and trespass.
“We need to get a full staff hired and then we can get an officer assigned to traffic when that is done,” he said, noting traffic calming devices, education, and enforcement were all part of the solution.
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