Sheriff Kaber writes letter to Governor Brown requesting local control in COVID response

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - In response to state mandates from Salem regarding the continued issues of COVID-19, Klamath County Sheriff pens a letter to Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Requesting that control of such mandates be dictated at the local level.

Sheriff Kaber states that the Klamath County Sheriffs Office, “will continue to provide for the safety, security, peace, and education of our citizens to the best of our ability. However, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office will not be enforcing masking, social distancing, or mandates that come directly from the state without local representation in the decision-making process.”

Below is the full copy Sheriff Kaber’s letter:

Date: August 16, 2021
To: Governor Kate Brown
From: Sheriff Chris Kaber
Re: Local Control of Covid Response

Governor Brown,

As Sheriff of Klamath County, I have an elected responsibility to facilitate the peace and safety of our county. I believe it is in the best interest of our county that we make local decisions concerning public health and safety. Klamath County has a proven record of successfully consulting with the very citizens who elected us to leadership positions; not just hearing the voices of those we agree with but listening to opposing viewpoints as well. We can be trusted to balance this information with state and national constitutions before using our authority to mandate anything. It is a formula that works! It is also in the best interest of the entire State of Oregon. Individual counties must be allowed to make decisions based on each county’s particular health and safety concerns. Imposing masking, social distancing, or vaccination requirements and threatening licensure sanctions or loss of employment if not complied with is an overreach by state government, divisive and coercive. It should be peaceably resisted.

Since the appearance of Covid19, Klamath County leaders continue to improve on a robust strategy of communication and collaboration with the common goal of providing the best possible outcome for our citizens. Health, safety, and education are common topics of discussion. We’ve proven that working together brings about the best possible solutions for Klamath County while insuring the natural rights of our citizens. Just such a meeting was convened last week fueled by recent mandates which overturned our calculated approach to handling the start of in-person schooling. One thing we all seemed to agree on was, apart from individual citizens and parents themselves, our local cohort of professional leaders are in a much better position to make decisions regarding what is best for Klamath County than anyone in Salem.

I support the letter addressed to you from Klamath County School Board asking to return local control of student masking requirements for in-person (K-12) learning to the County School Board in concert with our local Public Health Department; even though it’s my belief they currently have authority to make such decisions. I am convinced most Klamath County citizens are not willing to concede authority to your office and are in support of local control. I am currently working with parents who indicate they intend to resist state requirements. I do this in hopes of keeping the peace as school begins. This will undoubtedly include protesting your mandates.

Another letter sent you was from our Board of County Commissioners. It also asks that you reconsider K-12 mask mandates in a very respectful approach. The letter seeks consent though as elected officials, I believe they currently have authority to make such significant decisions for our county. In a time when civility and cooperation are in short supply, I appreciate their approach. They too support our local school board and public health professionals making local decisions

I know you are receiving many letters concerning this issue and some are professionally written while some are emotionally driven and likely offensive. My hope is this letter will be received with the spirit of respect for your position in which it is written. I am in support of local control being granted to those who need it. We will continue to provide for the safety, security, peace, and education of our citizens to the best of our ability. However, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office will not be enforcing masking, social distancing, or mandates that come directly from the state without local representation in the decision-making process.

In 1931 the first Superintendent of the Oregon State Police Charles Pray wrote: “The Peace Officer is the image of penal law and its warden; if he is to be esteemed and the law he typifies respected, he must know his authority well and use it wisely; he must neither exceed nor abuse it.” This quote has guided my law enforcement career and is applicable in part to all leaders in positions of public power.

Please Governor Brown, listen to all your constituents. Each county and geographical area is different, and each individual county should be heard and allowed to govern themselves locally regarding health decisions. In my opinion, that is the essence of, “knowing your authority well and using it wisely.”

Respectfully,
Sheriff Chris Kaber