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Crabtree faces challenger in re-election bid

Politics | Mon, 03/08/2010 - 11:08 pm | Read 3438 | Commented 15 | Emailed 0

Groh

Sheriff Jack Crabtree will face competition from a former Yamhill County sheriff’s deputy in this year’s May 18 primary.
Crabtree ran unopposed for a second term four years ago. He said he welcomes an opponent this time because it will give him a chance to discuss programs, get feedback and review accomplishments with the people he reports to — county residents.

Dayton resident Paul Groh, 57, filed for the race Monday.
He retired from the sheriff’s office almost five years ago, after 21 years. A graduate of Aloha High School, he spent two years with the Jackson County Corrections Department, and one year each with the Cannon Beach and Seaside police departments before signing on with Yamhill County.

He said Crabtree has had two terms now, and it’s time for a change. “It’s important for people to have a choice,” he said.
Crabtree agreed with the choice part.

He said having a challenger gives him the opportunity to discuss issues and disseminate information in a way that running unopposed does not. “I’m thankful to him for creating that opportunity,” the sheriff said.

Groh is making his home in Dayton with his wife, Claudia, and brother-in-law, Billy. He and his wife care for Billy, who suffers from Down Syndrome.

He had four children, one of whom is deceased. He has several grandchildren.

If elected, Groh said he hopes to expand the department’s public presence. He said it needs more patrol deputies on duty at all times.

The sheriff’s office is the largest law enforcement agency in the county, and as such, has many responsibilities, he said. It has to work in tandem with city police departments, local governments, school districts and social service agencies.

He said it doesn’t invest enough in those partnerships under Crabtree.

More deputies would help fortify such relationships, Groh said, and would enable the department to increase its contact with both victims and suspects.

At present, he said, understaffing forces the department to conduct a lot of dealings over the phone when face-to-face contact would be better.

Groh said he takes a collaborative approach with the department’s office corps on matters like budget and finance. He said Crabtree had done “an adequate job,” but funding could be stretched further.

He said he already knows most of the sheriff’s office employees, all the circuit court judges, most of the Community Corrections staff and the three county commissioners, adding those connections would be valuable in office.

Groh said he enjoys being in law enforcement because it makes such a large contribution to society.

“I have strong feelings for victims,” he said. “I don’t like it when people are victims and I think victims need advocates.”
The office is non-partisan. Candidates need not hold current law enforcement certification, but must be able to obtain certification within one year.

Print | Email Updated 19 weeks 6 days ago

Comments (15)

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Tue, 03/16/2010 - 3:46pm - Posted by: BEAVIS

So your saying the Sheriff's Office is giving out false information in a public recorded meeting. I'm only quoting what they said.

Mon, 03/15/2010 - 9:45pm - Posted by: Amity_resident

First of all there is no slander here. As a former employee of the Sheriff's Office I know that everything I have said is 100% accurate. Second of all there has not been 40 deputies that have left the Sheriff's Office in the last 8 years. I would say possibly 10. And that would account for retirements, people moving onto diffrent things and just a few from not cutting it on the road. And for those 10 deputies that have left over the last several years I would say about 15-18 new hard working deputies have hit the streets. There should be something to say about that. I totally agree that this should be a fair election but like I said in the beginning people need to know the truth so they can elect the best person.

Mon, 03/15/2010 - 5:54pm - Posted by: BEAVIS

So your saying the Sheriff's Office had 40 "undesirables?" So do we blame the past Sheriff's for hiring the 40 undesirables? I find it hard to believe that we had 40 deputies who were undesirable? I'm just pointing out a fact!!!! lets have a fair election and stop the slander!

Sat, 03/13/2010 - 8:15pm - Posted by: mysteree56

Beavis has it crossed your mind that maybe if the sheriffs office in fact did go through 40 deputies that our sheriff was, if you will, weeding out the undesirables?? I personally do not know Mr. Groh!! He may be one of the nicest people that you would ever meet. But it sounds like, according to his former piers, that he may not be able to cut it as a deputy let alone a sheriff!!

Sat, 03/13/2010 - 10:32am - Posted by: BEAVIS

So, first of all how do we not know that the "problems" Mr. Groh had were not created by the current Sheriff? All this talk about Mr. Groh leaving on bad terms is maybe true or maybe false. I do know that when the Sheriff's Office was bidding to take over Carlton the Sheriff's Office boasted about the their office going through 40 deputies since Sheriff Crabtree has been in office. I ask you this, why would anyone be proud of this? Was Mr. Groh one of the 40 deputies who left because of Sheriff Crabtree?

Now the comment about Mr. Groh working at the casino......Who would want to go from working as a deputy for so many years and end up at the casino? I bet it was hard for Mr. Groh to go through that, especially if he was ran out of the Sheriff's Office. Now I'm not saying my facts are correct but come on people lets look at the big picture. Mr. Groh and Sheriff Crabtree both need to be given a chance to see what they can bring to the table.

Sat, 03/13/2010 - 11:40am - Posted by: Amity_resident

Fri, 03/12/2010 - 8:51pm - Posted by: mysteree56

Mr. Groh. Do you plan on paying for these pipe dreams of yours out of your own pocket??
I have not heard any complaints in regards to our current deputies being so over worked. Seems to me that we could not ask for a better Sheriffs dept. to keep our streets and highways safe. I think for the size and population of our county, our state, county, and city police forces are doing one heck of a job keeping the crime rate down to a minimum!!! And I know personally that you could not find a better Sheriff than Jack Crabtree. if you would like to speak to him, he will talk to you and not push you off onto one of his deputies . From what amity resident says maybe Mr. Groh would need to hire more deputies to take up his slack!!!
Fishanman. What dirty laundry would that be??You must know somthing the rest of us don't And also why wouldn't the News Register back our sheriff he is a good man and an exceptional Sheriff!! Sheriff Crabtree, has nothing to worry about!!!

Fri, 03/12/2010 - 12:30am - Posted by: rk97015

Unfortunately, or fortunately however one looks at it, speaking as a former law enforcement professional that worked in Yamhill County for 8 years, what Amity poster described is 100% accurate about Mr. Groh. He is the last person I would of expected to bid for the office of Sheriff. Sheriff Crabtree has nothing to worry about if Mr. Groh is the only challenger. The Sheriff is correct. Having a challenger in an election will give him an opportunity to highlight his accomplishments that he otherwise wouldn't have.

Thu, 03/11/2010 - 7:10pm - Posted by: Newberg_Resident

If what Amity_resident said is correct, which I do not doubt with the detail given, than one thing we can easily conclude from the NR article is that this so-called former Deputy Sheriff already made his first mistake in his bid for public office: not ensuring that his closet is clean of any skeletons. Clearly he has some, and as a public figure his life will become an open book, open to scrutiny and criticism. Again, if what Amity_resident said is correct, then I don't see Groh's bid for Sheriff of Yamhill County going very far. The most he can count on are votes from those like minded as he, or others he worked with of the same negative character he once showned the Sheriff's Office and the citizens of Yamhill County. Anyhow, like Winchester said: "you do not fix what is not broken."

Thu, 03/11/2010 - 5:31pm - Posted by: Winchester

My first thoughts were – you don’t fix what’s not broken… But thank you, “Amity,” that’s the extra info some of us may need to confirm our decisions.

Mon, 03/08/2010 - 11:00pm - Posted by: Amity_resident

People need to know the truth about former Deputy Groh. Deputy Groh was a very unprofessional and lazy Deputy Sheriff. Groh would do what ever he could to sluff off work on his co-workers. Groh would not take action on priority incidents that he was called to, Infact Groh did not leave the Sheriff's Office on good terms. Groh was strongly encouraged to leave to prevent his termination because he had a duty to act on an incident but failed to. Mr. Groh has no college education and no experience in politics or the management of a multi million dollar budget. If Groh can't properly serve his community as a patrol deputy then why would he think he could hack it as the Sheriff. Sheriff Crabtree has done an awsome job weeding out deputies like Groh who did not do their jobs. Sheriff Crabtree in the last 8 years has increased the amount of Deputies on the road significatnly. He has purchased the Deputies equipment that makes thier jobs easier and keeps our streets safer such as Tasers, computers in patrol cars, new vehicles, AR-15 rifles and updated weapons. Crabtree has expanded the use of Inmate work crews to save the tax payers tons of money. Crabtree expanded the size of the jail to accomodate more inmates to keep our streets safe. I believe the Office of Sheriff is one of the most important eleceted positions at the County level. Do you want to elect a Sheriff who could not make it as a Deputy. Or would you rather re-elect a Sheriff who has turned the Sheriff's Office around and improved the safety of our streets. I ask voters to please RESEARCH Mr. Groh before you vote for him and look at Sheriff Crabtree's accomplishments.

Mon, 03/08/2010 - 3:59pm - Posted by: mcdreamer

No offense but am I the only one who thinks the picture looks like a "mugshot" of someone who has been arrested?

I'm just sayin...

Mon, 03/08/2010 - 8:48am - Posted by: zoogirl

Yamhill County residents should flock to the polls to elect Mr. Paul Groh as their new Sheriff. He possesses the perfect combination of compassion for those in need of an advocate and the rules of the law. This, along with his vast experience in law enforcement will most definitely bring great things to our community! The time for change is now!

Sat, 03/06/2010 - 9:22pm - Posted by: fishnman

Sir I applaud you. Its not easy to try and oust someone who has a well oiled PR machine and a newspaper under his arm. Its about time the sheriffs office's dirty laundry is aired. You have my vote and many others I am sure.

Sat, 03/06/2010 - 6:59pm - Posted by: TheLurk

More deputies? I can go with that. But Mr Groh, how do you expect to pay for this? I can well imagine it would cost $75,000 or more per additional deputy, including the additional vehicle expenses. You are not going to walk into the Commissioner's meeting and walk out with that kind of money, times the number of additional deputies.

Tell me more about your plan and how you intend to pay for it, Mr Groh.