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Sheriff Dennis Dotson

OREGON SHERIFF Magazine News

Dennis Dotson was appointed Lincoln County Sheriff by the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on July 2, 2003 and took office August 1, 2003.

In his most recent position, Dennis served as administrator for the Oregon Senate Business and Labor Committee during the 2003 Legislative Session. During the 2001 Legislative Session, he served as Legislative Assistant to Oregon State Representative Alan Brown of Newport.

The Oregon State Police employed Dennis for 28 years, serving in the Portland area, Baker County, Deschutes County, and served the last 12-1/2 years of his career as OSP's Lincoln County Area Commander. Since 1972 he has worked in a variety of capacities including commander of the Lincoln Interagency Narcotics Team from 1990 to 2000, OSP's representative on the Governor's Juvenile Crime Task Force, OSP's representative on the Lincoln County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council, and the Governor's liaison during the New Carissa disaster in Waldport.

Sheriff Dotson has also served as a board member for the Lincoln County School District Resolving Conflict Advisory Board, Local Alcohol & Drug Abuse Planning Committee, Lincoln County School District Commission on Student Violence and Behavior, Lincoln County Children's Advocacy Center, Lincoln County Partnership, Partnership Against Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Olalla Treatment Center for Children and Families, and the Rotary Club of Newport. He also served as a member of the Lincoln County Interagency Gang Task Force, Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians Child Protection Team, and the KIDS Committee.

Dennis was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is married, has three sons and five grandchildren.

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OREGON SHERIFF Magazine News

Winter, 2007 -- Your patrol deputies continue to be recognized by our local citizens and visitors alike. In 2006, more than 60 letters were received commending your patrol deputies for their assistance, professionalism, compassion and thoroughness. This does not include the phone calls and emails received. As of November 2007, your deputies have received 52 letters of commendation and thanks.

Your corrections deputies have also been recognized for their excellent customer service. In 2006, 18 letters from inmates and other people booked into your jail commended your corrections deputies. The common theme in the letters was that these people felt they were treated with dignity and respect during their incarceration or brief visit.

This level of pride and professionalism no doubt accounts for the high ratings your jail has received in the past three years. Jail inspection teams comprised of Oregon Jail Managers, Supervisors and Corrections Deputies inspect Oregon jails every other year. In 2007, your Lincoln County Jail was rated as being 98.2% in compliance with 402 jail standards adopted by Oregon Sheriffs. In 2005, your jail received a 96.8% compliance rating.

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