July 6, 2021 3:20 a.m.

The Umpqua Valley Public Defenders office has announced what are being called “landmark changes”.

A release from the UVPD Management Team said after 30 years in public defense, UVPD Director Dan Bouck has decided to retire. In Bouck’s 14-year tenure as director, he oversaw expansion of UVPD from a 6-attorney office with only 11 total employees to 13 attorneys and a total of 30 employees. The release said Bouck’s leadership expanded not only the size of UVPD but also its mission to serve indigent clients in Douglas County.

The release said UVPD’s Board of Directors has promoted Eric Swallow to Interim Director. It said that Swallow “…has been a zealous advocate for indigent clients for over 16 years in both criminal and juvenile matters, the last decade of which has been with UVPD”. The release concluded by saying, “We are enthusiastic about Erik’s leadership continuing to improve and expand our client-centered service approach”.