Elected through Terror

FORWARD

Forward

Over 750 people poisoned in one day, many others poisoned over a period of time. Arson, attempted murder, immigration fraud, election fraud and many other crimes were committed by the leaders of a religious sect that settled into Wasco County.

My job was to deal with the situation.

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 challenging things on my plate that first year after election and the Rajneesh were only one of those challenges. 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 Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.

He was their God and they wanted to be with Him, listen to him 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, for several years, the State refused to investigate.

First, because of the fear of being labeled anti-Rajneesh - being accused of only being critical and holding them to the law because of their religion and therefore they were 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 very early on.

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.

They committed the first documented germ welfare against American citizens by poisoning salad bars - over 700 people were ill, having to seek medical attention, and businesses were ruined. That was not enough, they tried also tried other tactics to poison citizens.

They plotted to kill several elected officials.

They tried to take over the county via the ballot box, using illegal methods to make that happen.

The rest of the citizens in the county had good reason to be concerned about their activities.

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.

Thus begins my story.