Contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Office
&
Sheriff Mike Winters

OREGON SHERIFF Magazine News

Mike Winters was born in 1958 in Long Beach, California, and moved with his family to Ashland, Oregon in 1966, where his parents had purchased 400 acres of ranch land. In its earliest years, the Winters' spread was mostly maintained by the family, including Mike who never questioned his role as a ranch hand.

Having spent most of his life here in the Rogue Valley, and attending elementary, middle and high school in Ashland, Mike can truly be considered a Native Oregonian.

Mike began his career working as a public servant with the Jackson County Fire District #5 as a firefighter/EMT for three years. He then took a position with the Ashland Police Department and served three years as a Reserve Sergeant.

In 1984 Mike proudly donned the uniform of an Oregon State Police (OSP) Trooper. Serving as a Recruitment Coach, First Responder and Firearms Instructor, Mike put in 14 years of dedicated service with OSP. In addition, he served on the State Police Entry Team and the Mobile Response Team. These teams handled high risk situations from warrants to riots.

Elected in November 2002 to a four-year term as the Jackson County Sheriff, Mike is continuing to serve in a public role, as a public servant. He currently is a member of numerous community organizations, and lives on a ranch outside of Ashland, Oregon.

Back to top

OREGON SHERIFF Magazine News

Summer, 2010 -- The Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the newly formed Southern Oregon Multi-Agency Marijuana Eradication and Reclamation, or SOMMER, are teamed together to work drug trafficking throughout all of southern Oregon. SOMMER combines the efforts of seven southern Oregon counties including, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath and Lake.

Members from each county are currently conducting their own investigations into large scale Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO's), local marijuana grows and their locations. Members of SOMMER plan to come together in the upcoming weeks to compile information on all the illegal marijuana grows in the seven county regions and discuss the best ways and sources to remove the illegal plants.

Beginning in late June or early July SOMMER will also issue contracts to helicopter companies and the National Guard for assistance in locating grows by aerial surveillance. The group anticipates within the next two months, at least three helicopters will be flying regularly throughout the regions.

Members of SOMMER are also providing informational classes to sources who may encounter members of drug cartels. Some of that information includes what type of items and equipment the cartels may be purchasing or driving into town.

SOMMER plans to spend between 90 and 120 days removing the illegal grows throughout the region. Members of ERAD, which consist of Search and Rescue volunteers, corrections, and patrol deputies will comb through the marijuana grows this summer to remove and destroy illegal plants found in the southern Oregon region.

Back to top