January 26, 2021 11:00 a.m.
Monday night, the Roseburg City Council authorized staff to submit a statement to the media in support of Police Chief Gary Klopfenstein, and in support of local businesses.
That comes following two groups, one which sought to have Klopfenstein resign or be terminated, and another which asked local elected officials to support a declaration which says citizens rights “have been grievously infringed upon by Governor Kate Brown” and other Oregon officials. The declaration said those officials who do not agree with the declaration would be held accountable via recall.
The council statement said Klopfenstein, “….serves our citizens well and upholds municipal, state and federal laws in a fair and equitable manner”. It said he has done so “…with leadership and integrity”.
The statement regarding businesses said local business owners, “…provide jobs, offer valuable products and services and influence the culture of our community”. It says that like the City of Roseburg, business owners have had to interpret orders and mandates from the State of Oregon which have “…been expensive and difficult to put in place”. The statement said restrictions have threatened the ability of some local businesses to remain in business.
It concludes by saying, “We do not stand in support of local groups who use coercion and threaten elected local officials with recall if they do not comply with their wishes. This action is divisive and dangerous at a time when cooperation and support are needed more than ever”.
While not identified by the release, those groups are Roseburg Citizens for Truth, and Citizens Against Tyranny, respectively. The News Review reported that the first organization has suspended its efforts.
The full council statement is posted with this story at www.541radio.com
Roseburg City Council Issues Special Statement
Roseburg OR – The following statement comes from the Roseburg City Council regarding Police Chief Gary Klopfenstein and the recent threats being made by local groups.
The Roseburg City Council stands in support of Police Chief Gary Klopfenstein. Chief Klopfenstein serves our citizens well and upholds municipal, state, and federal laws in a fair and equitable manner. His priority is the safety and well-being of our citizens and he has done so with leadership and integrity.
The Roseburg City Council also stands in support of local business. Small business drives the local economy. Our local business owners provide jobs, offer valuable products and services, and influence the culture of our community. They have faced a variety of difficulties during the COVID pandemic. Now, as we approach the one-year mark of living with the coronavirus, we are being presented with another crucial moment that threatens to divide us.
Like local business owners, the City of Roseburg has had to interpret orders and mandates from the State of Oregon. They have been expensive and difficult to put into place. They have created hardships for many of our citizens. We recognize that these restrictions have threatened the ability of some local business owners to remain in business.
As citizens of Roseburg, and in some cases local business owners ourselves, each of the councilors listed below stands united in support of doing our best to protect our citizens, local business owners, our city staff, and visitors to the City of Roseburg.
We do not stand in support of local groups who use coercion and threaten elected officials with recall if they do not comply with their wishes. This action is divisive and dangerous at a time when cooperation and support are needed more than ever.