>Local law enforcement, brand inspectors conduct seminar this past weekend

Police from around Oregon met this past week in Prineville to get tips on livestock laws, theft identification techniques and other topics.
   The Oregon Livestock and Rural Crime Investigators Association held the training at the Crook County Library and at Quail Valley Ranch. Crook County Sheriff Rodd Clark sponsored the event.
   "Basically, it is to train law enforcement and brand inspectors, and also ranchers and anyone else the techniques of branding livestock and conducting investigations into livestock thefts," said Crook County Undersheriff Jim Hensley. "There's a lot of ways the animals can be identified. They're getting basic livestock terminology and training. They've got training in open range and closed range law and issues."
   Police personnel also learned about what to look for "when checking someone who is transporting livestock."
   "I can tell you right now that there is someone transporting livestock here in Crook County who is not doing it properly," Hensley said. "And it's not to go out and say to the ranchers `We are trying to regulate you.' No, it's to protect his interests."
   For example, if one has a grazing allotment and is transporting cattle through the county, police need to make sure the livestock haven't been stolen, Hensley said.
   Officers also learned about Bureau of Land Management and national forest livestock and rural crime issues, national identification standards for livestock, how best to accomplish investigations in a rural setting with differing values and survival techniques in rural areas.
   In all, about 25 showed up for the training, including some from the Oregon State Police, Crook, Umatilla, Deschutes, Union, Benton and other sheriff's offices and livestock brand inspectors. The cost was $35 per person, which covered tuition and training materials.
   "Basically each agency pays for their own personnel's lodging and things like that," he said. "It's actually a very reasonable cost for three days of training."
   Hensley was appreciative of the help from Quail Valley Ranch.
   "The hands-on training that we had done - we owe a big thanks to Quail Valley Ranch and Kurt Lockhart," he said, adding that the ranch supplied the cattle and horses for the training.
   "Hopefully, it will be a good tool, a good learning experience for the deputies we have attending it, as well as other deputies...." the undersheriff said, adding that this will give them information they can take back to the ranching communities in their respective counties.