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Sheriff Russel Burger

OREGON SHERIFF Magazine News

Sheriff Russel Burger was elected to replace retiring Lane County Sheriff Jan Clements. Sheriff Burger has a well rounded law enforcement career that comes in a package of education and job experience.

He began his law enforcement career with the San Bernardino County Sheriff Office where he spent 6 years. He then joined the Oregon State Police where he worked his way up through the ranks of trooper, sergeant, lieutenant and area commander being responsible for all of Lane County and parts of Linn, Douglas and Klamath Counties. His area of responsibility prior to his election as Lane County Sheriff was as Chief Deputy for that agency.

Sheriff Burger has a BA in Business Administration from Oregon State University, and has completed coursework towards a Masters degree in Public Administration at California State University, San Bernardino, as well as Administration of Justice at San Bernardino Valley College.

Russel has a full plate of issues that he is dealing with in his new job. The Lane County Jail is under staffed requiring that a number of criminal beds are unfilled. "We need to staff the jail to hold criminals accountable for their criminal behavior," he said "We need those beds to address property crimes including burglary and methamphetamine manufacture and use."

Sheriff Burger's immediate goal is to support his deputies in making customer service a priority and helping members of his organization look, act and be professional at all times.

Sheriff Burger, 42, and his wife Lynn have two school age sons.

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OREGON SHERIFF Magazine News

Summer, 2010 -- In January, a coalition of law enforcement agencies including Sheriff Russ Burger, District Attorney Alex Gardner, all Lane County Chiefs of Police, and local Federal law enforcement partner agencies, filed a petition with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to consider Lane County for designation as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The petition received support from the Lane County congressional delegation including Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, and Congressman Peter DeFazio. As a result of these efforts, the ONDCP approved the petition for designation.

This designation gives Lane County eligibility, as a part of the Oregon HIDTA, for Federal funding that works to reduce drug trafficking and abuse by facilitating cooperation across Federal, state, and local law enforcement jurisdictions. The Oregon HIDTA is one of 28 such programs across the country and includes eight other counties in Oregon.

Sheriff Burger said, "This designation will help further our efforts to keep our community free of illegal drug distribution, and comes at a critical time given our budgetary difficulties. I join the Lane County Chiefs of Police, the District Attorney, and our Federal law enforcement partners in welcoming this designation, and thanking the efforts put forward by our local delegation."

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Lane County

Sheriff Russel Burger