BROOKINGS - Jessica Garciaâs life changed forever six years ago when she was violently sexually assaulted. After surviving the attack, she quickly realized the worst of it wasnât over when she tried to go to the hospital.
What followed was an ordeal Garcia believes no one should have to endure. So, sheâs trying to change it. And she just might succeed.
Garcia has already made big strides thanks to a partnership with State Rep. David Brock Smithâs office. In 2019, House Bill 2375 passed the legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Kate Brown. The law requires district attorneys and hospitals to have a plan to treat sexual assault survivors or a plan to quickly transfer them to a facility that does.
Following the assault on its director at the old Crescent City Landfill, the Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority approved a no-trespassing ordinance that carries a fine and potential jail time for those who violate it.
The Board of Commissioners for the joint powers authority unanimously approved the ordinance Tuesday. It must then go before the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors and the Crescent City Council for approval. If both bodies approve the ordinance, it comes back before the DNSWMA Board of Commissioners for final adoption, Director Tedd Ward said.
“The short of it is that state parks, who has a long interest in making sure people aren’t trespassing across the landfill, (said) if there was an elevated ordinance that had signage on the property, they would be happy to enforce that,” he told directors.
Del Norte Sheriff s Deputies Rescue Two Men Trapped Inside Capsized Boat
Photos of the rescue provided by the DNCSO.
Del Norte County Sheriff s Office press release:
Sheriff Erik Apperson said I have absolutely zero doubt that two lives were saved today because of brave deputies going above and beyond the call of duty. These are the circumstances people often overlook or never hear about when it comes to law enforcement personnel. These types of stories should be shouted from the tops of mountains and these heroes should be celebrated.
Probably now more than ever, most people have an opinion regarding law enforcement and what their roles should be. I think it s important to remember that law enforcement personnel are often the first on scene to any critical incident, even those types of scenes that most people would expect a different branch of public safety to handle. By design, law enforcement officers are already in motion, ready to respond and are operating some of the most