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Exposing the constant possibility of violence

Buffy Pollock and the Rogue Valley Times deserve a great deal of appreciation for exposing a very disturbing and serious problem in our community. “The Death of Bobbie Kolada” was a very sad but valuable reading experience. Ms. Kolada’s death was a great tragedy, and never should have happened.

I was also appalled to read about Ms. Rivera-Shaefer, who after already having been battered by a resident, having no backup, and felt ready to call 911, was told, “Do not call 911. You do not need to call 911. You do not need to be dramatic about it.”

Before retiring, I worked for 19 years as a staff psychiatrist in a Northern California county mental health department, which has a psychiatric inpatient unit. When a patient became angry and out of control, and the inpatient staff needed additional backup, the local police were called. The additional support enabled control without injuries. It was not an issue of drama, but of safety.

It’s true that a psychiatric inpatient unit is not the same as a Partnerships in Community Living residence, but they both have the same problem — the constant and unpredictable possibility of violence.

Over the years, it appears that PCL management has allowed and encouraged a workplace culture in which injuries have become acceptable. In a well managed workplace, injuries should be exceedingly rare; in PCL facilities injuries have become exceedingly commonplace; and in one case, deadly.

Victor Mlotok MD / Phoenix

Why a local newspaper is vital

Your series entitled “The Death of Bobbie Kolada” defines why a local newspaper is vital. Without your reporting, this outrageous and seemingly avoidable tragedy might have been hidden from the public.

The situation begs the question: Why are these group homes housing violent residents allowed to slip under the radar, leaving the caregivers at risk of injury and death? How on earth can one petite woman fend off an attack by a 300-pound man, and why is the group home allowed to operate under such lax conditions?

There are many other questions to be answered, but the situation is simply beyond belief. Please do continue to follow this story.

Leslie Walsh / Medford

They walk out againThe clown car that’s the national Republican Party has engulfed its Oregon counterpart. Federal Republicans held the national and global economies hostage because they refused to pay for the debt they ran up under Trump’s presidency. Now Oregon Republicans refuse to accept that elections have consequences and have decided to thwart democracy by not showing up to do the job for which they sought election.

Throughout the session, Republican senators have tried every possible tactic to slow progress, trying to run out the clock on the session from Day 1. This is not democracy; this is a brand of petulant childishness that deserves no respect. Hundreds of bills covering every aspect of our lives are probably being defeated. As the minority, the Republicans’ task is to try to persuade other legislators to their opinion, but they just walk out and pout. And now, they have the gall to complain that the duly elected Democratic majority, in exerting its constitutional authority to govern, is behaving unconstitutionally.

The best outcome for Oregon would be that last year’s Measure 113, passed by a thumping majority across the state, will result in a large expunging of most members of the anti-democratic Republican Party.

Alan Journet / Jacksonville