Oregon Rangers in a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization born of people with exceptional expertise. With a common core sense of duty to the state and country, community service to the public with a focus on EMS and general aid, they strive to make a difference.
Most Rangers have proven backgrounds from police, military or fire departments. In the first year, Oregon Rangers trained over 35 individuals in the First Responder medical program from many different fire departments all over western Oregon at little or no cost. Over the past 4 years, they have trained well over 500 people both from fire departments and the local community. From wilderness medicine to CPR, the Rangers educate wherever they go. They also patrol areas where help in an emergency situation is hard to come by such as remote lakes, streams and parks. It is a documented fact that over 540 emergencies, mostly cardiac and allergic reactions, take place each year in Oregon Parks.
The Rangers are part of a 911 system and can respond to emergencies with expertise not normally available in most areas. WIth the most advanced communications systems available, multiple agency contact is at hand. If needed, the Rangers are even trained to respond from the air.
Educated as Armed Officers with the State of Oregon, the Rangers do carry firearms for your protection and theirs. However, their duties are limited in most cases, referring heavy calls to traditional law enforcement.
Oregon Rangers bring back the days when someone would stop to help a stranded motorist, the days when the woods were a safe place for your family. Here to make a difference, Rangers stick together to make Oregon a safer place!
Oregon Rangers come from all walks of life.
Here is the resume of just one of the Rangers:
Ranger # 313
U.S. Army Veteran
Civil Air Patrol
Sheriff Department, Special Deputy
Volunteer for OSP Game Department
8 years as a ballistic technician for a leading hunting magazine
Served on board of directors for Oregon Hunter
Writer for local newspaper and two magazines
Top Gun on the 1995 State of Oregon Sheriff Handgun Team
1991 USA 1000yrd Shooters Championship (# 7) with .50 Cal. Rifle
12 years volunteer firefighter 1
14 years volunteer Fire Department EMT- Basic, then Intermediate
Oregon State Search and Rescue (SAR) certified
Swift Water Rescue Tech 1
HAZMAT Operator 2
10 years USFS Wilderness Ranger
Certified Instructor for:
Booby Traps
Close Quarters Combat
EMT Basic & EMT Intermediate, including instructor
State of Oregon First Responder Instructor
Red Cross Professional and Lay Rescue CPR Instructor
NRA Personal Protection
NRA Law Enforcement Handgun/Shotgun
State of Oregon Armed/Unarmed Security
Look Before You Leap!
Paul Ehrhardt CEO
The Oregon Ranger Association began as a very controversial organization that as time has proven, was the result of some “creative” newspaper reporting. I am sure part of the incentive was the focus of sensationalism created in distorting the truth so as to capture the attention of the Associated Press, thus sending the article worldwide. While intended to wound us, it in fact helped to get the word out about the positive things we do.
Some people may have read of the warnings given on the Web under Wikipedia under Note about the Oregon Rangers. It talks of a currently formed Oregon Ranger “being somewhat controversial and that some disambiguation might be in order” from the first Oregon Rangers of the Oregon Territory in 1844 to 1846.
I doubt any more scrutiny than this would be required. It is always a good idea and a wise choice to evaluate anything not so much as what is said, but “how the walk is walked.” In short, what do they really do?
That being said, it is well documented and true that the Rangers were involved in a shooting and although one person was killed, there were no charges filed. If you read the 1846 report closely, there may have been some politics involved as well. So much for a perfect world in 1846!
I believe the Rangers are now and were then, a very dedicated group of people doing their best, putting their life and livelihood on the line to do a good job that others did not have the fortitude to do!
The Rangers, both past and present also are made up of Oregonians, some of which may be from the same families. Some are famous such as D. Waldo, or Waldo Lake. It was D. Waldo’s farm that the first Oregon Rangers used to drill on.
So before you or I consider judging the Rangers for a job most people did not have the courage to do, please read the report of the shooting and place your own self in their position. We, the Oregon Rangers have studied and learned from it. The shooting we are referring to is the Battle Creek Incident: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Rangers, 1/8/2008.
