Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office holds shredding event to fight identity theft

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office recently hosted a shredding event, drawing close to 200 cars to safely dispose of hundreds of boxes of documents. The initiative aimed to prevent identity theft and offer a valuable public service to the community.

During the event, participants dropped off documents and more than 15 flags were collected for proper disposal, alongside several donations of canned goods. This community outreach is part of the Sheriff's Office's broader effort to provide services beyond traditional law enforcement.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, between 14 and 24 million Americans become victims of identity theft annually.

Identity theft can manifest in various forms, including online phishing, impersonations, or the unauthorized use of stolen documents. Thieves can also search through discarded garbage for personal information, making secure document disposal crucial for residents.

Lt. John Jernigan, with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, highlighted the importance of these events. "The SHRED events important gives us an opportunity to work with the public. Help prevent identity theft," Jernigan said. He added, "It makes us feel good. It's an opportunity for us as an organization to provide additional services to the public, above and beyond law enforcement."

Rob Overstreet, a resident of Sisters, underscored the convenience and value of the service for residents. "This is just an incredible opportunity to get rid of some old documents," Overstreet said. He noted that people often keep documents for longer than necessary and these events provide an easy solution.

Pat Coffey, a resident of Redmond, emphasized the security provided by having law enforcement agencies facilitate the shredding. "We come from an area that has shredding services you pay for, but there aren't those kinds of services here," Coffey said. "So to have the the the law enforcement agencies providing this provides a level of security that we just wouldn't find anywhere else."

The shredding process happens on site and is handled by Republic Services. The drop-off process for each car lasts only a few minutes, which can help prevent more significant issues related to identity theft.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office hosts these shredding events four times a year. Residents are encouraged to be on the lookout for announcements regarding future events.