Sheriff’s Office staff brightens the holidays for the most vulnerable – of all ages

Green has traditionally been a Christmastime color. And, the men and women who serve at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) helped further establish the connection between green (the color of their uniforms) and this Holiday season.

How? By throwing parties for two adopted groups – one old, and one young.

Holiday in Menlo Park

On December 16, MCSO staff and deputies converged on Menlo Park Health Care, an adult skilled nursing care facility on NE 122nd Avenue.

“This is important because many of residents here don’t have any families,” noted Becky Bilyeu, Menlo Park’s activity director. “This year, they’re getting a real Christmas; everyone one here is getting something for Christmas this year, thanks to the Sheriff’s Office.”

Rhoda English, organizer of the event for MCSO said they decided to “adopt” Menlo Park patients after Bilyen contacted her. “This is a gift from the Sheriff’s Office management, employees, and volunteers. In addition to deputies, other employees, including records technicians, volunteers, property room personnel, management – all of them contributed.”

After getting a “wish list” from residents, English said MCSO staffers went to work, filling detailed requests.

“Really, the residents weren’t asking for much – mostly simple, personal items,” English told us. “These are things that are easy for us to get, like clothing, Q-tips, tissue, and other personal supplies. And, the gift stockings are beautiful – many of them are gorgeous works of art; all handmade by some of our volunteers.”

English called herself “Just an ordinary employee of MCSO for 20 years.” But, as resident, Joy Benz said, “This means a wonderful Christmas for us all, I’m so happy. This is a very kind thing they’ve done for us.”

“This makes all of us feel so good to be able to give something back, especially to our senior citizens,” English responded.

Sheriff’s Office hosts Transition School party at Inverness Jail

Two days later, on December 18, MCSO volunteers hosted another party – complete with lunch and gifts, this time for young people.

“Here at the Inverness Jail, we have the room to host the 21st Annual Community Transitional School holiday party,” Lieutenant Mary Lindstrand, MCSO’s Public Information Officer told us.

“In addition to the gifts, these kids will be treated to entertainment, and a personal visit with Santa,” Lindstrand reported. “These 85 children are from foster homes, or are homeless – they are kids who don’t have a real home. So, we’re giving them a Christmas party in our ‘home’.”

The large room was brightly decorated in a Christmas theme. “We also involve the inmates; they help us decorate the room before the children come,” Lindstrand pointed out. “It gives them the chance to give to back to the community during the Holiday season. The female inmates who helped us with this were very happy, and said they enjoyed being able to participate. And, they did a wonderful job decorating this room!”

The most important gift: JOY
Asked why MCSO workers put so much time and effort into the event, Lindstrand answered immediately: “These kids did not make their situation, whether their parents are homeless – or may actually be in jail. We want to make sure these young people have a Christmas.”

Lindstrand introduced us to Liz Daily, a program supervisor for the security unit at the Sheriff’s Office – one of the many volunteers at the event. “One year, a child requested a set of bed sheets for Christmas. Everybody wondered why he wanted bed sheets. He told us that, because he was moved from house to house – sometimes nightly – he just wanted to have his own bedding.”

Daily pointed out that each child gets four gifts: Two clothing items, and two toys. “While Transition School helps these youngsters get two good meals a day, as well as an education in an accepting environment, many of them would not have a Christmas at all if it were not for this.”

“There are no words that can actually describe the joy I feel,” Lindstrand added, “when you look at the kids faces, here the party, having fun – and opening their presents. It gives them a chance to share in the joy of the Holiday.”

Cost to taxpayers: $0.00

The event is entirely funded by donations by MCSO staff members, retirees, volunteers and their families, Lindstrand said. “Staff members and volunteers buy and wrap all the gifts. The food is donated as well; and we again thank Izzy’s Pizza, who will be bringing in pizza for the event.”

Juggler and entertainer extraordinaire Rhys Thomas was standing by to entertain the kids who were being greeted by the Portland Trail Blazers’ mascot, Blaze. “It’s hard not to feel a tug on your heartstrings when you see some of the same kids here, sometimes a couple of years in a row. But, these kids are stunningly resilient. Here, at this special time, we make it possible for them to just be kids.”

Sworn to go “green”

After the deputies led singing Christmas carols, Multnomah County Sheriff Daniel Staton stepped up and greeted the group. “I was thinking but giving a big speech. But, as I sat down at a table and met some of these great kids, I asked them to step up front with me instead. I do want to tell you how happy I am to be here. We are really proud to be here with you, wishing you a Merry Christmas.”

Sheriff Staton asked everyone to stand in preparation for being sworn in as Honorary Deputies.

“Raise your right hand,” Staton began.

“I, state your name,” and as if on cue, everyone in the room repeated the words “State your Name” – which got a hearty, if unintentional laugh!

“I promise to be respectful of all people. This includes my parents, and teachers. To be responsible and safe, be honest, and good to everyone. To be creative, and imaginative.  To do my homework, to have fun and laugh a lot. To be the best kid I can be. And, to make my favorite color green!

“I, Sheriff Daniel Staton of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s office, hereby bestow on each of you the title of honorary deputy sheriff.”

“Although the jail doesn’t have a chimney,” Lindstrand noted, “Santa has been granted access to the building. This is an event, and an opportunity, to give much needed love and support to these kids, and a boost toward breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness that is their norm. We all feel it’s a wonderful way to get into the Holiday spirit.”

By David F. Ashton

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Accomack sheriff’s toy drive a success

Christmas was a little merrier for more than 80 children this year, thanks to the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office.

Employees and community members donated nearly 400 toys, including several bicycles, in the weeks leading up to Christmas to the sheriff’s inaugural Christmas toy drive.

Sheriff’s office staffers distributed the toys early last Friday, just before a major storm was due to hit and in time for the gifts to appear under the trees of 36 needy Accomack County families on Christmas morning.

The toy distribution took about an hour.

“We took what we had and we sent cars in different directions,” Sheriff Larry Giddens said.

Administrative assistant Lisa Ashby coordinated the program.

“This is the first year we’ve done it, but the idea is something that has been on my mind for years,” Giddens said, crediting the Chincoteague Police Department, which operates a similar program, with sparking the idea to collect toys for needy children in the communities served by the Sheriff’s Office. “This was a way of giving back,” he said.

“We got great support from staff as well as the community to make this possible … It was overwhelming,” Giddens said, adding, “I told the staff that thanks to their help, there will be a lot of smiles on a lot of children’s faces Christmas morning.”

Giddens said the office hopes to make the toy drive an annual event and plans to expand the program next year.

By Carol Vaughn

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SWAT team takes second place in international contest

Alachua County Sheriff’s Office sharpshooters were on target in a recent competition, taking second place in an international field that included some full-time SWAT teams.

The second-place finish was the best ASO placing in the SWAT Round-up International competition in Orlando, which this year drew teams from Germany, Sweden, Dubai and Hungary in addition to departments throughout Florida and the U.S.

But more than that, the competition, which took place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 4, creates a better SWAT squad, sheriff’s officials said.

“The greatest asset to this competition is the training that goes into getting prepared for it – that and the competition itself. You do so many different tasks, and it makes you such a well-rounded member of SWAT,” said Sgt. Shawn Brooks, ASO’s SWAT training coordinator.

“The level of stress and pressure on each team member is incredible. The stress I feel competing is greater than on any SWAT operation that I have ever been on,” Brooks said.

SWAT, which stands for special weapons and tactics, is a unit within many law enforcement agencies that might be used during hostage situations, certain drug busts, cases in which a suspect is barricaded and others that require elite skills and weaponry.

At some agencies, SWAT is a full-time duty for the members. At ASO, SWAT members are regular deputies who are called to SWAT duty when needed.

A set of criteria must be met for the SWAT team to be called out. Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Maynard, also a SWAT member, said the squad is typically used 25 to 30 times a year.

The ASO squad has 25 members – though not all are deputies. Included are a doctor who volunteers his time and intelligence officers. Eight were selected to complete in the four-day, five-event competition. Most of the pre-competition training is done off-duty.

SWAT Round-up is held by the Florida SWAT Association with the National Tactical Officers Association every year. This year, 52 teams competed in events, which feature running, climbing over obstacles, crawling and shooting.

The running, climbing and crawling make the shooting more difficult because they increase the heart rate and breathing of the competitor.

“With the targets themselves, you have to be a really good shot because they are so small and at a distance. But when you combine the physical activity beforehand … it makes it extremely difficult,” Brooks said.

Maynard added that training courses are held in conjunction with the competition and bring in top experts.

Maynard added that the senior leadership on the team evaluates the performance and generally finds that their skills and physical fitness improve from the training and competition.

“They will be the most tactically sound, and that is a phenomenal benefit,” Maynard said. “Everybody else just tries to play catchup.”

The overall winner was the Lakeland Police Department. ASO was one point behind, while the third-place team, an emergency rescue team from NASA, was 11 points behind.

By Cindy Swirko

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Watertown Police Get New K-9

K-9 Corporal David Marinaro of the Watertown Police Department and his German Shepard Enzo graduated from canine training school within the Patrol Dog field, along with 12 other teams as part of the 142nd Patrol Canine Training Troop.
A graduation ceremony was held at the Connecticut State Police Training Academy in Meriden on Thursday, December 17.

Class speaker Jeff Moody of the Hartford Police Department said many of the officers came from different towns and had never met before training.

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Police K9 in Temple needs a little help

One Central Texas police department is raising money to make sure their four-legged crime fighters are safe on the job.

In September, Ingo became the newest K9 to join the Temple Police Department. His handler Officer Jeffrey Bragg said even with just three months on the job, Ingo has stayed pretty busy.

“Last week, we had a foot pursuit where the suspect threw an item, and we used him to track where the guy ran, and we found narcotics,” Bragg said.

In addition to tracking people, Ingo is also used for crowd control. According to Bragg, sometimes the sight of a police dog is enough to deter a would-be criminal.

“Having him as a partner tends to make people more apprehensive trying to break the law than having two officers there, because he bites,” Bragg said.

However when Ingo goes on his patrols, he is missing a key piece of equipment — a bullet proof vest.

“It’s not 100 percent to keep him safe, but it helps him stay safer than he would without one,” his handler said.

Bragg said Ingo’s vest will cost about $1,200. To try to purchase Ingo’s vest, the Temple Police Department organized a special fundraiser and demonstration Tuesday in front of the PETCO in Temple.

“Out here, we’re going to do some tracking out in the field, where he’ll pick up a scent and track where someone is running or hiding,” Bragg said. “He’ll also be doing bite work to where he’ll be apprehending a suspect, when he is released by me and given commands to bite.”

They hoped to have onlookers like Paula Smith see firsthand the role police dogs play.

“These are working dogs. And, it’s obvious that they are very good at what they do,” Smith said.

Also among the crowd was 14-year-old Laine Tarby. He said watching the demonstrations taught him an important lesson.

“To stay out of trouble, because Ingo will come after you,” Tarby said.

According to the manager at PETCO, they will be collecting donations of $5-$20 until Christmas Eve. The money will be split between the Temple Police Department and a local animal shelter.

If you are not in the area, you can donate money directly to the Temple Police Department. The phone number is (254) 298-5500.

By Chie Saito

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Boise PD asks public to support K-9 unit

The Boise Police Canine Unit put on quite the Christmas dog show Wednesday, featuring furry enforcers in training as as well as veteran police pooches like Blek.

“The dog lives with me, he goes on vacation with the family,” said Officer Mike Nance, Blek’s handler for the past three years. “He’s the friendliest German Shepherd you’ll ever meet. When I go to work, he goes to work with me.”

But Blek is not the family pet. The German Shepherd from Czechoslovakia is highly trained to sniff out drugs or apprehend suspects, all at the bark of his master’s command.

“He’s had several apprehensions,” said Officer Nance proudly. “He’s a very successful, very experienced dog.”

The police dog show was part of what the department is calling a historic call for public donations to help support the K-9 unit.

With tax-deductible public donations managed by the Idaho Community Foundation, the BPD hopes to expand its 13-dog K-9 unit beyond what the department’s budget can now afford.

The department has created the Boise Police Canine Foundation, a charitable fund that supports the operation of the Boise Police Canine Unit .

The Boise Police Department itself is not allowed to accept donations, though citizens grateful for police services have generously offered to contribute over the years, says Lynn Hightower, police spokesperson.

By partnering with the Idaho Community Foundation, the Boise Police Department can accept contributions toward purchasing new police dogs and supporting its existing dogs.

The ICL will manage fund donations to the Boise Police Canine Foundation, creating efficiency for both the Boise PD and citizens who wish to donate. The ICL also guarantees exposure for the Boise Police Canine Foundation to a wide array of potential donors.

Hightower says the Idaho Community Foundation works with nonprofit organizations throughout the state by gathering funds from individual donors, groups and foundations.

The ICL is able to grow those funds through investments to meet donors charitable objectives, while granting funds for a broad variety of worthwhile and critical projects, like the Boise Police Canine Foundation.

Citizen donations to the Boise Police Canine Foundation will pay for needed improvements and supplies for the canines beyond the department’s annual operating budget.

For example, although many of the departments drug and explosive detection dogs are adopted from local animal shelters, the purchase of a dual purpose drug and apprehension patrol dog can cost between $8,000 and $9,000. A training bite suit, that helps maintain the patrol dogs skills while keeping trainers safe costs $1,300.

The Boise Canine Unit presently consists of four drug detection dogs. Two are currently in training, meaning they are not yet certified for street use. One drug detection dog is assigned to the Boise Police Bandit narcotics unit, one to the Neighborhood Contact Officer unit, and two are assigned to patrol. Boise Police drug detection dogs are adopted from our local animal shelters.

Three of the drug detection dogs are labs or lab mixes, the fourth is a German Shepherd, Belgian Malanois mix.

There are also five explosive-sniffing dogs assigned to the Boise Airport but they are often called upon to respond to any location throughout the Treasure Valley. These dogs are purchased with Homeland Security funds. Four of the explosives detection dogs are labs, the fifth is a German Shepherd..

And four patrol dogs are cross trained in drug detection and suspect apprehension. Patrol dogs are purchased at a young age with some basic training. Many police patrol dogs come from Europe, and are sent to American suppliers who then sell the dogs to police agencies.

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How to Help:

Donations can be made by clicking HERE. Click on donate directly to your favorite fund, and choose Boise Police Canine Foundation.

Donations can also be made by sending a check made out to Boise Police Department Canine Foundation to: ICF at P.O. Box 8143, Boise, ID 83707. Donations are tax deductible and can be made in any amount. Donations made before Dec. 31 can be deducted from 2009 income taxes.

By Scott Logan

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BCPD K-9 unit going through changes

The Brazil City Police Department is experiencing some changes.

Both K-9 Handler/Patrolman Kenny Hill and Patrolman Jeremy Mace are moving on in their law enforcement careers.

According to Brazil Police Chief Dave Archer, Hill recently took a new job with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

“(Hill) was an excellent officer with the department,” Archer recently told The Brazil Times. “He will be missed. We wish him the best of luck in his new job.”

Per department protocols, K-9 Officer Anya had to have a medical check up with the vet, which Archer confirmed she passed with flying colors. However, Anya still needs a handler.

“I never really thought about being a K-9 handler before,” Mace said about his new assignment. “But working as a partner with Kenny and going on ridealongs with Anya, that changed. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Mace said Hill taught him how to work with Anya before he left the department.

Anya has moved into Mace’s home and quickly became a part of the family.

“We’ve bonded quickly,” he said. “Anya is a great asset to the department.

Both will need to attend training at the academy — which Archer said would be scheduled as soon as possible — before going on active duty. But Mace and Anya are training with the two canine units at the Clay County Sheriff’s Department and riding together while Mace is on patrol.

“It’s a way for her to get used to traveling in my car and to me,” Mace said. “We’re learning to work together. I’m really looking forward to working with her at the academy.”

Archer said the department would eventually like to have a second canine unit, but not right now.

“Progress on getting a second canine unit is on hold because we just don’t have the manpower right now. Our focus right now is to bring Anya and Mace up to speed,” Archer said. “We need to get them the training they need to be a successful team.”

However, since the community supports the canine unit, Archer said those interested may still make donations to fund the project.

“We’re really grateful to the public for all their support with not only our department’s unit, but that of the sheriff’s department as well,” Archer said. “The community really benefits from having the dogs as assets in the departments.”

To support the Brazil City Police Department’s canine unit program, contact the Brazil City Clerk/Treasurer’s Office at 448-8403 for more information, or stop by Riddell National Bank to make a donation.

By Ivy Jacobs

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Awwww…..

Girl meets Bosco after raising thousands for him

Bosco’s ears perked up when Katie Cavanagh began to pet him Tuesday.

He leaned into her as she pet him, and Cavanagh smiled.

Bosco never strayed farther than a few feet from his partner, Zanesville Police Department Officer Mike Schiele, but he didn’t shy away from Cavanagh and her family either as they all reached in to pet Bosco.

In just a few weeks, Katie managed to raise nearly $5,000 for Bosco, who was shot twice while on duty Aug. 24.

Schiele also was shot, but he recovered more quickly than Bosco, who still goes to therapy in Columbus three times a week.

Katie Cavanagh and her father, Christopher, talk with Zanesville Police Department Officer Mike Schiele and Chief Eric Lambes. Katie raised nearly $5,000 to donate to the police department's K-9 fund after hearing Bosco, Schiele's K-9 partner, and Schiele had been shot in August. (Leeann Moore,Times Recorder)

Cavanagh and her family traveled from Westerville to meet Bosco. Cavanagh organized several bake sales in Westerville and Zanesville to raise money. She made the phone calls herself to set up the locations and get donated baked goods to sell.

“When you do stuff you don’t expect to get stuff in return, but when you do, it’s really great,” Cavanagh said. “When I started, I never thought I’d get the opportunity to meet him, and look where I am today.”

Chief Eric Lambes, who also was in attendance, said $100,000 has been donated to the police department’s K-9 fund since Bosco was shot.

“We certainly appreciate everything Katie has done. It’s good to see young people out there so civic-minded and service-minded, and willing to put forth the effort to work toward a goal and achieve a goal,” Schiele said.

Cavanagh recruited her parents, Carole and Christopher, her sister, Colleen, 14, and brothers, Kevin, 15, and Connor, 10, for help, but she did the majority of the work herself.

She collected $714 from her first fundraiser in the first two hours, raised around $2,000 at her second fundraiser at Kroger’s in Zanesville and then more than $1,000 at a Columbus Crew game.

Mayor Howard Zwelling, who declared Dec. 22 as Katie Cavanagh Day, described her as a dog lover, a humanitarian and a sweetheart.

Cavanagh’s grandparents, Dick and Bobbie Zdanis, came to see her and meet Bosco, too.

“She took it that one step further,” Bobbie said. “One person can make a difference.”

Cavanagh’s latest school project, a research report on how to make K-9 units’ bulletproof vests lighter, was inspired by Bosco.

“This is pretty in character with Katie. When she hears about something like this she wants to get involved,” Carole said.

Recently, a classmate of Cavanagh’s lost their home to a fire, and she took it upon herself to call her friend’s mom. She made a list of items needed by the family, made copies of the list that she distributed around her school, collected the items and delivered them to the family herself.

“I really like it,” Cavanagh said of her fundraising efforts. “You know it’s going to help. A couple hours of my time is going to make a world of difference for them.”

By Lee Moore

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A Touch of Professionalism

Following a period of turmoil in the Buffalo Police Department, Mayor Jerry Hardesty and the Buffalo Board of Aldermen were seeking a police chief who could bring stability and professionalism. The man they chose was Sam Hartsell, who had 37 years of experience in several police departments, including 20 years as chief at Cassville, Centralia and Republic.

The mild-mannered Hartsell, who always looks neatly dressed and … well, professional … has lived up to those expectations since he was hired in August 2008.

“I think Sam is great for Buffalo,” said Mayor Jerry Hardesty, “and the general consensus among members of the board of aldermen is that he is doing an excellent job. He is making the department more professional.”

Hardesty said that everybody from the state attorney general on down to his former employers have had nothing but good things to say about Hartsell, “and he gets along well with everybody.”

Since becoming chief, Hartsell has stressed to police officers that the public must see them in a positive light. To this end, he wrote a booklet for each officer called, “A Chosen Profession,” to emphasize the moral values needed by police department employees. He also allows “no sloppy dress.”

“They must earn the respect of the public,” he said. “So many officers watch cops on TV, they forget that they are public servants.”

One of Hartsell’s first challenges was to get the department back to full capacity, which is seven full-time officers, including himself. In addition, there are six unpaid reserve officers who work part time. Many of these are people who have graduated from the police academy and want to work full time but haven’t yet found positions.

“A lot of departments don’t have reserve programs because they don’t want the liability,” Hartsell said, “but I find them to be assets who can help us with security and certain events. Some of these have been in other police departments in the past.”

Hartsell also got the police department building cleaned up, added a department mission statement and a police manual. The manual is approximately 1,000 pages and covers just about every possible situation. His handouts to new department personnel include a law enforcement oath of honor and oath of office, and a police code of ethics. Officers are required to sign a receipt of acknowledgment that they have read it and understand it.

The new chief added some evidence-processing equipment and a finger-printing operation, which sits on a stand constructed by members of the city street department. The same workers also built a speaker’s podium for the department. Another professional touch was to add a system for recording interviews with suspects and witnesses.

Constantly trying to improve and uphold the department’s image, Hartsell added photos of all police officers on a wall in the hallway.

“This is so if a citizen has a compliment or complaint about a certain officer and doesn’t know the name, he or she can find the person on the wall,” he said.

One of Hartsell’s goals for the future is to implement a Neighborhood Watch program. This is where neighbors get together in a meeting and agree to become the eyes and ears of the police department and let the department know if there are any security problems.

“The response hasn’t been good so far,” he said, “but I hope we can get more results this summer. Only people from one area have come forward; people may be complacent because not much is happening in their area (regarding crimes, etc.).”

The chief also wants to improve the starting pay of officers, which is now $9.70 per hour, although he realizes this will be tough to do in a down economy.

Hartsell added that he has been building a rapport with Dallas County Sheriff Mike Rackley.

“The sheriff needs manpower help,” he said. “We must help each other.”

The Buffalo Police Department recently hired Tony Kinser as a K-9 officer and has a new drug dog, Goisy (see the Buffalo Reflex, Dec. 9). Hartsell reported this week that Goisy had passed the canine certification and is now certified to detect marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, hashish and crack cocaine.

He and his wife, Patricia, moved to Buffalo from Republic shortly after he was hired. They have two married sons and five grandsons.

By Paul Campbell

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Daughter of gunman helped rescue policeman

A 16-year-old girl who watched her father shoot two Pierce County sheriff’s deputies is being called a heroine for dragging her gun-wielding father to the floor, possibly stopping him from firing additional gunshots.

Bryona Crable may have saved the life of Sgt. Nick Hausner by preventing her father from shooting him a second time, sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Ed Troyer said Thursday.

Hausner, 43, was released from the hospital on Thursday morning and spent a portion of the day visiting his gravely wounded comrade, Deputy Kent Mundell Jr. Mundell, 44, is in critical condition and remains on life support at Harborview Medical Center, Troyer said.

Hausner did not talk to the media on Thursday because the wounded deputy wanted to focus his attention on his partner and on celebrating Christmas with his family, Troyer said.

Sheriff’s investigators are still piecing together the events of Monday night at the Eatonville-area home where David E. Crable, 35, opened fire on the two deputies.

Hausner and Mundell were summoned to the Tanwax Lake home of Crable’s brother, Jason, who had reported that his “drunk and belligerent” brother was an unwanted guest. Also home at the time were Bryona and Jason’s girlfriend, Bridget Warren.

David Crable had agreed to leave the home with the deputies, but instead pulled out a handgun that had been hidden in a shirt tucked under his arm and opened fire.

Mundell was shot several times but managed to return fire, striking Crable, Troyer said. Hausner also was wounded in the gunfire.

Before the mortally wounded Crable could fire again, Bryona Crable “jumped on her dad and fought him for his gun,” Troyer said.

“He went down and never got up again,” said Troyer.

The girl then ran outside, summoned neighbors and dialed 911.

Jason Crable and his girlfriend protected Hausner by dragging him into another room, barring the door and administering first aid, while Bryona went for help.

“She’s absolutely a hero, but she’s also a victim. She witnessed her dad being shot,” Troyer said. “She’s had a bad life at her dad’s hands. She saw her dad shoot two deputies and she stood up and did the right thing and tried to help our guys.”

For years the girl has been at the center of family fights involving her father, a man whose life was plagued by alcohol and violence, according to court records.

After the shootings the girl, her uncle and his girlfriend left the Tanwax Lake home near Eatonville with little more than their clothes. The property has been torn to pieces during the criminal investigation. It was more than two days before they were even able to retrieve their cellphones, said Warren, Jason Crable’s girlfriend.

“We’re going minute by minute,” Warren said Thursday morning. “Obviously, we can’t go back to our house, so at this point, everything’s up in the air.”

Lacking relatives in the area, Warren said they’ve been staying with friends. They’re trying to figure out what to do about a funeral for David E. Crable.

The girl’s bleak Christmas has weighed heavily on the minds of sheriff’s deputies and the community, Troyer said.

On Thursday, the Sheriff’s Department, Nordstrom and Toys For Tots gave the girl Christmas gifts, Troyer said. He said that Bryona was appreciative of the gifts but remains stunned about what happened inside her uncle’s home.

On Wednesday, Bryona posted a note on her MySpace.com page that read, “R.I.P. Daddy, I love you.”

“We feel terrible about what happened,” said Colin Johnson, spokesman for Nordstrom. “We wanted to make a small contribution. Our hearts go out to all of the families impacted by this tragedy.”

By Jennifer Sullivan

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Deputy released from hospital; visiting wounded partner

Pierce County sheriff’s Sgt. Nick Hausner has been released from a hospital and paid a visit to fellow Deputy Kent Mundell at Harborview Medical Center.

Both men were wounded Monday in a shootout with David E. Crable, who was killed by gunfire.

Hausner was released from Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis this morning and was driven to the Seattle hospital to visit with Mundell, who is in critical condition in the intensive care unit, said sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Ed Troyer. He said Hausner then planned to go home, where he will require additional medical care.

As details on what happened inside the Eatonville-area home where the shooting took place are pieced together, Troyer said it has become clear that Crable’s 16-year-old daughter may have saved Hausner’s life. The girl watched her father shoot Mundell several times and then shoot Hausner. At some point she jumped on her father and dragged him to the ground, keeping him from shooting Hausner again, Troyer said.

The girl then ran outside and called for help. Crable never got up again after she knocked him down.

Today, the Sheriff’s Office, Nordstrom and Toys For Tots will be giving the girl Christmas gifts, Troyer said. “She’s absolutely a hero, but she’s a victim too. She didn’t choose her family,” he added.