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Public comment raises concerns about police response and museum theft in Stayton
Summary
A resident criticized police response to a drunken disturbance and said a museum theft went unaddressed; the comment framed the issues as leadership and trust concerns toward the department.
Stayton — During the public‑comment period, resident James Loftus told the council he has lost confidence in local police responses after what he described as a prolonged disturbance and an apparent theft from a local museum.
Loftus recounted an episode from September in which he said he called police about an intoxicated man attempting to enter his automobile; he said officers were on scene only briefly and left the subject to “sleep it off” in his car. “This is a leadership issue,” Loftus told the council, saying the encounter lasted several minutes after he identified himself as the homeowner.
Loftus also said he reported a break‑in at the local museum and questioned whether the department would act on a theft he described as about $300 in donated bottles and cans. He said the events undermined his willingness to file reports and described diminished confidence in the department’s follow‑through.
Council members did not announce specific follow‑up actions at the meeting. The public comment was taken as an individual expression of concern; no formal complaint was recorded in the council discussion and no departmental response was presented during the session.
The council’s agenda later included department updates and recognitions but did not include a stated inquiry or motion addressing Loftus’s remarks.
