Playing it safe
Local agency promotes program to battle stalking

By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:34 AM PST

Project DOVE Executive Director Jeana Critchfield (from left), Project DOVE Head Chairperson Debbie Blackaby and Project DOVE Advocate Coordinator LaDonna Wiedenman test cell phones donated to give stalking and domestic violence victims a lifeline to area law enforcement. Wiedenman said since January is National Stalking Awareness Month, she would like to get the word out about the dangers of stalking.

Ontario — Many area residents may not give a lot of thought to a person they apparently bump into at the store a few more times than normal.

Or the person parked across the street at odd hours at night.

Either situation, though, could be obvious and critical warning signs regarding stalking, and one area agency is looking to spread the word this January about who might be lurking in the shadows.

Project DOVE (Domestic Violence Eliminated) Advocate Coordinator LaDonna Wiedenman said January is national stalking awareness month.

Wiedenman said most stalkers know their victims, and stalking is about control. A person will often stalk to express that need for control by monitoring their victim’s whereabouts

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“They’re make sure they are going to work and not the store,” she said.

Malheur County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Rich Harriman said Malheur County residents are particularly susceptible to stalking because of the relative isolation of much of the area.

He said the isolation of homes from each other can add to the anxiety of the victim and can also serve to bolster the courage of the stalker since they know help might be far away.

However, Project DOVE is attempting to furnish a way for victims of stalking or domestic violence to feel safe by handing out donated cell phones to be used to call police in a moment of danger. Wiedenman said Project Dove gives away five to 10 cell phones a month.

Once police are contacted, Harriman said a law enforcement official will arrive at the home of the victim. If the victim believes repeated stalking, such as phone calls and rifling through mail, is causing fear and not simply a nuisance, Harriman said he will offer a stalking citation for the victim to sign.

Harriman said Oregon law defines repeated stalking as two or more stalking incidents. Once a stalking citation is presented to an individual, the offender is no longer allowed to contact the victim. However, the saga does not end there, as the offender must then appear in front of a civil court within three business days to hear a judge again demand the offender no longer contact the victim. There, the victim must speak about the incidents that caused him or her to sign the citation.

Harriman said this can often be a scary process for the victim since the offender has often secured an attorney and the victim may be alone in detailing the incidents. However, he said the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office will often support the victim throughout the court process, though they are not able to offer legal advice. He also said the victim can also pay for an attorney if they wish, though he understands many may not have the means to do so.

However, he said he believes the legal process empowers the victim because they are taking a stand for themselves and their family.

Harriman also recommended keeping a journal of stalking incidents such as unwanted gifts or phone calls as well as the emotions of the victim at the time of the event, which can be used to bolster the victim’s case against the offender.

This citation can also follow the victim to other states if the victim informs law enforcement in those states. Using the power of the document, officers in other states can arrest the offender if he or she violates a no-contact order. Unlike restraining orders, which expire in time, he said the stalking citation lasts throughout the person’s life.

He said some offenders may not see their target as a victim and may not truly understand their actions are unwanted. He said stalking is often depicted in movies as romantic, with the stalker winning over the object of his affections before the credits roll. However, he said this plan of action does not translate well to real life.

“We’ve been saying for 15 years that no means no,” he said.

Harriman said it is important for victims to keep in mind they have the right to walk away from a relationship without any further communication with the person.

Wiedenman said victims often see the behavior as harmless and do not fear a person who is constantly in close proximity to them because “he can go where he wants.”

However, she said she saw Stalking Awareness Month as a prime time to alert potential victims of the harm of not taking stalking seriously. She said a person who feels they are being stalked should visit Project Dove, situated at 585 N.W. First St., and meet with advocates to discuss a plan of action against the stalking.

“They need to change their routine,” she said, “make themselves difficult to track.”