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Public Land Users Committee P. O. Box 5012, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 |
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Monthly Meetings March 13, 2006 The meeting of the Public Land Users Committee was called to order with the reading of the minutes from February 6, 2006 which were then unanimously approved as read. Deputy Boot Hill representing the local sheriff's' office spoke to the group about various aspects in handling calls about land and property damage, particularly as related to state lands. He emphasized how each situation is different which leads to the great difficulty of getting a conviction. When there is posted statements about what is allowed, i.e., no motorized travel, that takes the guess work out of the job, whereas a situation like a campfire, where the fire has burned up all the evidence is just not going to happen. If there is land damage, the sheriff's department needs estimates, so they contact the BLM office and the closest office is in Buffalo. They come and estimate the cost to re-store the land to its original status. The local sheriff's department has had trouble getting that person from the Buffalo BLM office to attend to calls made. The incident might get reported down through the high school grape vine a few days later which is a great help to the department. Littering of household trash can be easier because of the high probability of junk mail with an address. If you find anything like this, call the sheriff's department immediately. Things like someone cleaning out a garage then going to the dump with it but they didn't want to pay the dollars to dump so they turn around and leave. Maybe the people at the dump saw them and can identify the vehicle. That gets one clue. As a precaution, anything that looks like chemicals, stay away. For example, blue water containers, water jugs, any containers that could hold the waste products from these meth labs, call the sheriff's department, then they call the fire department. The sheriff's department doesn't have anything to do with containers with liquids. Much of the time they are strongly acidic. Shoe prints are another building block to the department. Make sure no on else goes around the area covering up the evidence. Tire tracks, all evidence needs to be left as found. That was the person can't say 'it was planted'. Shooting of signs and fences are hard. If you see a shotgun shell, don't touch it so the sheriff's department can get as much information from it as possible. The question of whether or not it is legal to target shoot on state land was discussed. For example, if you see it shot, call the sheriff's office but if there is a witness, getting more information just more parts of the building blocks. Just make sure no one gets onto the crime scene ". Sooner or later we can do it, but let us do it so we can preserve it", stated Deputy Hill. The best the sheriff's department can ask the person who finds the crime scene to do is be sure John Q Public stays off the area. Or later a lawyer could ask you as a witness, "were you trained to investigate?" Vehicle parts can be left behind at a fence break." Anything you find lying around, call us", Deputy Hill emphasized again. We can also use crime stoppers. Money hungry people have called crime stoppers with information that solved the crime. Ask people to come forward. Lots of people were upset about the closing of the state land (Buffalo Run Creek area) . Generally it is just 1% of the population drugged of just ornery that do the damage. The department will be happy to come out and get whatever evidence you have. Having signs posted makes it handy when the people are caught, they can't use ignorance as an excuse. It is lots easier in the court system when the signs are there. The crime stopper's number is 67CRIME. The radio station lets the department go to them and let the public know of a crime and the investigation and ask for calls, like the crime stoppers. "I have done that and anytime you want me to make an announcement, I can do that. We have made announcements about car theft and vandalism on the radio before", said Deputy Hill. He offered to make announcements about the rules of state land use. Again, Deputy Hill stated that it is the 1% of people who do the damage. Discussion followed on how to keep down the amount of damage done. Game and Fish Department can only enforce IF they are in the area for other duties. The law enforcement is the responsibility of the sheriff's department. To keep down the target shooting and be able to enforce such, there should be signs, for example, 'safety zone-no shooting'. Discussion on whether clay pigeons were considered litter was brought forth. Deputy Hill said that is a very 'iffy' call because they are supposed to be biodegradable. Plastic shells aren't. Did the people drive off road/on private land? Those would be crimes. Littering is a crime, but are deer carcasses litter was asked. If the carcass was whole it would be under the jurisdiction of the Game and Fish because it is against the law to waste game meat. Deputy Hill spoke about the problem at Buffalo Run Creek as the parking lot at the top of the hill makes it very easy to see anyone coming up, so you can't catch someone in the act, if you are driving up. IF he is parked up there already and the perpetrator drives up, he could catch them But only 1 or 2 times of the 10 times that he has been out there has anyone driven up there. The present damage in that area is in a 20 feet by 20 feet area. Gerald speculated that signs about not shooting in that area would help. Bill stated the SLB would have to make that rule. Jim Thomas then assisted in the discussion of the difference between rules and regulations. It has to be a state wide regulation to get through the court system like driving off road with damage report by the BLM as they are supposed to be experts. Larry Durante told Deputy Hill that if their department has trouble getting BLM personnel to respond to calls, call the county commissioners. Also, when restitution is set, it is easier to prosecute. Mike then asked what a citizen could do when there was a group caught. Mike said this has happened to the department like at Three Forks, when there were too few personnel to handle the infraction. He said to get the names, then appoint one person "responsible". If the area is not restored/cleaned up, that one person will be responsible. The group expressed their appreciation for the report from Deputy Hill. Jim Lundy asked for information in specific about crime stopper's program. Larry Durante stated that there is not a need to specifically contact the state office when going out hang signs. The need to be putting up more signs was addressed by the group, but by reason of time constraints, the task for now will be take care of by John Kraft, Gerald Erpelding, Ray and Phyllis Simon . John Kraft brought the information to the group that other groups have had
little sign damage when an American flag decal has been placed on the sign. We will pursue
that course. A comment about the logo was given to the group stating that the open gate could be taken as just that and since leaving gates open that are supposed to be kept shut is the biggest concern of lessees, the matter was of significance. However, the group is still looking favorably upon the picture of the fence and gate as logo theme. Upon statement of the president, the meeting was adjourned. JELo 06/25/2007 |