Through the years I have been asked by many to write about my experiences with the Rajneesh Sect that arrived in Wasco County in 1981.

Prior to my running for election to the Office of Sheriff in 1984 I had little contact with them.  I was a Police Officer in The Dalles, the county seat of Wasco.  It was the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office that was responsible for the enforcement of laws outside The Dalles – and the Rajneesh’s home was over 80 miles and three - four hours away.  We rarely saw them inside the city.

What I am writing – at this time – are my memories of that time.  Unfortunately I had many things on my plate that first year after election and the Rajneesh were only one of those things.  I did not think to keep a journal; now, I wish I had – but what I will write is accurate and as truthful as I can remember.

While the Sect is responsible for many crimes that occurred and the harassment of local Wasco County citizens, the majority of the followers had nothing to do with those actions.  All they wanted to do was be near the Baghwan Shree Rajneesh.

He was their God and they wanted to be with Him, listen and worship Him. 

However, those that were involved in the crimes and terrorism committed a great deal of difficulty for the citizens and the county. 

The exact financial and even emotional cost to the county cannot be calculated.  However, tens of thousands of hours were spent investigating violations and defending the laws of Wasco County and the State of Oregon.  Time, of course is money; money that was badly needed in other areas of the county.   

Over the next few weeks, months and possibly years, I will, from time to time, post some of those memories.

The one thing we learned was that Criminal elements can take over any religious sect and use it to their advantage. 

We need to stand against those that would abuse our laws and use their ‘Religion’ as a basis to cry discrimination. 

Hiding behind the cloak of religion these people got away with a lot of criminal activity – activity that, at first, the State refused to investigate one, because of the fear of being labeled anti-Rajneesh the 'religion' and therefore discriminating against them.  

The second reason for not addressing those concerns was their making a decision that those that were complaining were ‘red-necks’ and over reacting.  They thought themselves more sophisticated and more enlightened – it almost cost people their lives.

David Frohnmayer, Oregon Attorney General, was the only state official for most of that time that recognized what was happening and started taking action against their unlawful behavior.

In the end the truth won out, the State of Oregon got their eyes opened up, and some of the followers were prosecuted – I don’t think we got them all, in fact I know of several that escaped into countries with no extradition agreements with the United States.

How much the leader, Rajneesh himself, actually knew about the criminal activity we are not sure.  We do know that a few people used their positions in a religious sect to terrorize and attack citizens in not only Wasco County but other parts of the State of Oregon.

I was an Elected Sheriff.  I was (and am) a Christian.  Even though I disagreed with their religion, I never acted on that disagreement, I upheld the law.  My peers within Wasco County did the same.

The Rajneesh leaders, however, used the weapon of yelling “bigotry” against any and all who opposed their actions – actions that were proven to be well-thought out criminal and terrorist plans against the citizens – Wasco County, Oregon, United States - citizens.

Luke 1:51-52 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Jesus, the Son of God, the Person that had lived with God always.  Jesus, who was there when God created the heavens and the earth.

He was there when Adam sinned, when Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea.  He was there when Abraham, Joseph, David, Solomon, Elias, Job, Esther, Ruth, all the Kings and all the prophets tread this earth.

He lived in splendor where angels obeyed His very command; where He had all things, period.  Nothing on this earth can match the grander in  which He lived in Heaven.

Yet, He came to earth as a baby and He allowed himself to be subject to the discipline of Joseph and Mary.

But He did the will of His Father and in all this He was well thought of by those that knew Him.  Yet,

Mathew 14:54-58 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

⁵⁵ Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

⁵⁶ And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

⁵⁷ And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

⁵⁸ And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

So why, when He went into these same areas in which He grew up, to preach to them did they reject Him?

I have heard that some of the writings told how Jesus performed miracles as a lad, according to one of them He picked up a dead bird and breathed life into it.

THAT is one of the reasons we must look at all things through God’s Word for proof.  Some say those writings should have been included in the Bible, but it contradicts the very verses that give credence to Jesus as a man and as a person who placed Himself under man’s discipline.

If He had performed the miracles attributed to Him as a child – why would these people be asking about His miracles and teachings now?

They lived with Him, they went to synagogues with Him, they played with Him.  They probably had gone to Joseph’s shop to have work done on something or to have him come to their home to do carpentry and Jesus would have been there helping.

Jesus was a man, raised as a man and conducted Himself as a man.  Those that knew Him growing up knew Him as a man – now, He was coming back with all these teachings, performing miracles and forgiving people’s sins.  He was one of them, how could He be the Son of God?  

They rejected Jesus based on their knowledge of who He was when He lived among them – a man, a good man, but just a man all the same.

I can remember the rantings and ravings of a local car dealer who used to get dozens of tickets a month for parking his cars illegally on the street.

He was upset with the meter maid, he was upset with me for supporting her.  Among the many things he was upset with was we were not raised in the community – we were outsiders.  In his mind only people raised in the community should be enforcing the laws.

His message was clear, he was ‘important’ and anyone growing up in the community would know that; they would not be issuing those citations to him.

Living in small communities has some definite advantages.  People know each other, they shop, work, worship together.  Their children play and go to school together.  People look out for each other.

However, it also is a problem.  A new person coming in is often not readily accepted, especially if they come in with authority or have a much different background than the rest of the citizens.

We won’t get into the graft and corruption that can also be a big part of communities that have ‘important families’ and their friends running things for generations.  (That, of course, isn’t just a small town problem – it goes right up the ladder to national.)

In most cases where we hired a local person to join our force they had difficulty on the street.  Old friendships, old enemies, or alliances crept up on them and made it difficult to get the job done.

Mistakes they had made in their younger lives came back to haunt them – and people took advantage of that.

In one instance a home grown officer – a very large person – had been picked on as a child; and it was known.  It wasn’t long before he got little to no compliance.  He couldn’t overcome his reputation.  Frankly, he never should have been hired, he wasn’t police officer material – but he didn’t have a chance.

In another, a man who ‘everybody loved’ also had difficulty being a police officer.  In his case he had been a drinker and member of a couple fraternal organizations.  The nice thing about going into a bar brawl with him was that everyone like him which helped to immediately calm things down.

But he resigned, he could not take action against his friends, he couldn’t write tickets let alone make arrests.

All of us have a background and history that we bring with us in everything we do – including our service to God.  It can be good, bad or in between.  

People close to us know us better than we do ourselves at times, and they know those areas they can use to question our message.  I knew him back when has probably been the downfall of many people.  They can’t overcome the past.

Satan also knows that.  AND he uses it often.  He uses it when we witness to others that know of our weaknesses – calling it up against us so our witness is unsuccessful; especially if the sin is after we accepted Christ.

What is even worse is his ability to dredge these things up from the recesses of our minds.  We know what we have done in the past, we know how fragile we are, we know we are not perfect and that testifying to others about Christ could look like hypocrisy.

So, we allow our knowledge of ourselves, or allow the knowledge of those who know us, make us weak and ineffective in our service to Him.  There is no doubt that some of that is true, but it doesn’t excuse us from trying just the same.

I believe Jesus knew what His reception would be in the community of His youth, but it didn’t stop Him from teaching there.  We don’t know how many people He reached even though He had His naysayers – and more importantly for us, He led by example.

While He knew what the response would be, He went anyway. 

Therefore WE have no excuse for not witnessing in our neighborhoods and communities.  Yes, we will be rejected by some, but it is still our responsibility to serve where we are and not shirk it for fear of interference from past sins.

Most importantly, however, in serving God He will be glorified, we never know who we may influence for God.  Our mission is not to save people; it is to witness to them so God can save them.

Later, Dad :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again