New Details / Law Enforcement: CCSO establishing illegal marijuana enforcement team | News

“We recently received a $940,000 grant from the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) to put together an illegal marijuana enforcement team,” Pixley said. “So, we are hiring to back fill spaces for this team and also for an open position.”

Pixley said this specialized enforcement team has been needed for quite some time and the concern is twofold.

“The first is the human trafficking component,” he said. “Often times these illegal grows are tied to organized crime from either a Mexican or Chinese cartel. As such, they often will use “indentured servants” to work these grows to pay off some form of debt owed to the cartel. In my opinion, this is the biggest reason for our team.”

Pixley said the location of the illegal marijuana grows is his second concern.

“The fact they grow in rural areas across Oregon, then ship the marijuana to the East Coast where they can sell the marijuana on the streets,” he said.

Pixley shared the attached pictures that he took while the CCSO worked with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Oregon State Police (OSP) in 2021.

“The pictures depict part of one grow we had here in Columbia County,” Pixley said. “The year-long investigation culminated in 26 search warrants served across the state of Oregon and one in Texas over a two day period in September of 2021.”

As a result of the search warrants, Pixley said the following was recovered statewide:

• 32,999 total marijuana plants
• 1504 lbs of bulk marijuana
• 23 firearms
• $353,000 in cash.

“The $940,000, two-year grant will allow his agency to completely stand up a team,” he said. “It pays for all needed equipment and 2.25 full-time employees.”

At the conclusion of two years, there is a potential for additional funding to continue the team, Pixley said.

Once the new deputies are hired, they will be required to take specific training before performing duties.

The training for an enforcement deputy includes a 12 to 16 week Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP), this pairs the new deputy with a Field Training Officer to learn applicable on the job skills and training, according to Pixley. New recruits will also have to attend a 16 week basic academy at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (ODPSST) in Salem.

Training for the corrections deputy includes a 12 to 16 week FTEP, which also pairs the new deputy with a Field Training Officer to learn applicable on the job skills and training. The new correction deputy recruits will also have to attend a six week basic academy at the ODPSST.

Pixley said the hiring process can be challenging.

“We have a rigorous hiring policy that can take up to four months to work through the process,” he said. “One of our biggest challenges though is the pay. We are so close to the Portland Metro area, that applicants can make more money by driving to Multnomah or Washington Counties. We are currently in negotiations for a new union contract so I am hopeful we will be able to close that gap a little bit.”

According to Pixley, the annual salary range with benefits for a new deputy is $23.02 – $33.73 per hour.

The CCSO also offers a 5% incentive pay for advanced certificates and Columbia County offers a full benefits package and enrollment into the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), according to Pixley, who adds that deputies also earn sick time and vacation time, depending on their years of service.

“A career with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is very rewarding,” Pixley said. “We spend a lot of time in the community really giving back as much as we can.”

The CCSO was to conduct a hiring event in Warren July 23 as part of the new hiring effort.