Dennis Dotson was appointed Lincoln County Sheriff by the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on July 2, 2003 and took office August 1, 2003. Sheriff Dotson was elected Sheriff of Lincoln County on November 2, 2004.
Prior to his appointment, Sheriff Dotson served as administrator for the Oregon Senate Business and Labor Committee during the 2003 Legislative Session. During the 2001 Legislative Session, he served as Legislative Assistant to Oregon State Representative Alan Brown of Newport.
The Oregon State Police employed Dennis for 28 years, serving in the Portland area, Baker County, Deschutes County, and served the last 12-1/2 years of his career as OSP's Lincoln County Area Commander. Since 1972 he has worked in a variety of capacities including commander of the Lincoln Interagency Narcotics Team from 1990 to 2000, OSP's representative on the Governor's Juvenile Crime Task Force, OSP's representative on the Lincoln County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council, and the Governor's liaison during the New Carissa disaster in Waldport.
Sheriff Dotson has also served as a board member for the Lincoln County School District Resolving Conflict Advisory Board, Local Alcohol & Drug Abuse Planning Committee, Lincoln County School District Commission on Student Violence and Behavior, Lincoln County Children's Advocacy Center, Lincoln County Partnership, Partnership Against Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Olalla Treatment Center for Children and Families, and the Rotary Club of Newport. He also served as a member of the Lincoln County Interagency Gang Task Force, Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians Child Protection Team, Lincoln County Domestic Violence Council, Oregon State Sheriff’s Legislative Committee, the KIDS Committee and more.
Sheriff Dotson is a graduate of the Northwestern University Traffic Institute and the FBI National Academy. He was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, is married and has three sons and six grandchildren.
Lt. Jamie Russell began her career with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office on May 12, 1992 as a Corrections Technician. On September 1, 1993 she was promoted to the position of Corrections Deputy. August 1, 1997 she was then promoted to the position of Corrections Sergeant where she managed the Field Training Program and was in charge of the security for the Christian Longo case. On June 1, 2003 she was promoted to her current position of Corrections Lieutenant. Lt. Russell is currently serving as secretary of the Oregon Sheriff’s Jail Command Council. Lt. Russell has attended the OSSA command College and currently has over 900 hours of training in her field. Lt. Russell possesses a supervisory certificate from DPSST.
Lieutenant David Carey began his career in law enforcement as a Boarding Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard while stationed in Newport from October 1986 until he was honorably discharged in October of 1990. He was hired by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on October 1, 1990 as a Patrol Deputy. In 1993 he was involved in re-forming Lincoln County’s new SWAT team. In 1995, while on patrol, he was involved in an incident that resulted in a human life being saved. Lt. Carey was awared the Medal of Valor from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and the Valor Award from the Oregon State Sheriff's Association.
On March 1, 1998 he was assigned to the Lincoln Inter-Agency Narcotics Team (LINT) as a Detective where he remained until July 1, 1999 when he was promoted to Patrol Sergeant. At this time he was also promoted to Team Leader of the SWAT team, which by now had become an inter-agency team involving other law enforcement agencies in Lincoln County.
On June 6, 2005 he was promoted to his current rank of Lieutenant and assigned as the Patrol Commander. As Patrol Commander, Lt. Carey oversees the Patrol Division of the Sheriff’s Office, which includes Detectives, Patrol, Marine and Forest Deputies. He also remains on the SWAT team as the Team Commander. Lt. Carey has attended the OSSA Command College, the DPSST Supervisory course, and has over 1500 hours of training in law enforcement, SWAT, leadership and supervision. Lt. Carey possesses a supervisory certificate from DPSST. Lt. Carey is married and has two sons.
Lieutenant Curtis Landers began his career with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on August 1, 1987 as a Records/Property Clerk. On February 15, 1989, he was promoted to Corrections Officer and worked in the jail. On September 1, 1991 Lt. Landers was promoted to Patrol Deputy. As a Patrol Deputy he served as the contract deputy for the City of Depoe Bay for two years and was on the Multi-Agency Crash Team. On March 1, 1997 Lt. Landers was promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant where he managed the Field Training Program for new patrol deputies and was in charge of continued training for the patrol deputies. On October 1, 2005 he was promoted to his current rank of Administrative Lieutenant. As the Administrative Lieutenant, Lt. Landers is responsible for obtaining and administering grants, policies and procedures, sheriff's office training, and risk management for the Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Landers has attended the FBI National Academy (class #231), OSSA Command College, the DPSST Supervisory and Middle Management courses, and has over 2000 hours of training in corrections, law enforcement, leadership and supervision. Lt. Landers possesses a management certificate from DPSST.
Christie Meister began her career with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office on March 1, 1977 as a Dispatcher/Matron. She was promoted to Civil Deputy on January 1, 1978. On August 1, 1982, she was promoted to the position of Administrative Assistant/Office Manager. She was then promoted on January 5, 1987 to her current position of Chief Civil Deputy where she manages the operations of the Sheriff's Records, Evidence and Civil sections and a variety of software applications. She has been recognized for her achievements over the years with her most recent being in 2005 where she was chosen to receive a local Law Enforcement Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement and chosen by her peers throughout Oregon as Civil Manager of the Year. Chief Civil Deputy Meister has attended the DPSST Supervisors Academy and a variety of other management and education courses having over 1000 hours of training in her field. She has completed The Results Group Leadership Academy and the OSSA Command College. She is an active member of the Oregon Sheriff's Civil Command Council serving on the Curriculum, Legislation and Civil Training Manual committees. She has served three years on the OSCCC Board, most recent as the 2007 President. She holds a DPSST Supervisory Certificate.
Animal Shelter Manager Dee Kaminski started with Lincoln County in June 1968 as a part time animal shelter employee under the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Kaminski was promoted to Animal Control Officer on September 25, 1974 and was in charge of running the Animal Shelter and providing animal control services. Kaminski resigned on November 28, 1975. Kaminski was hired by Central Coast Humane Society (who was under contract with Lincoln County) as Animal Shelter Manager in 1978. Kaminski continued as Animal Shelter Manager with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office in February 1, 1987 and transferred to Civil Deputy August 1, 1993 as a Civil Deputy was responsible for processing and serving civil papers. Civil Deputy Kaminski was promoted from Civil Deputy to Animals Shelter Manager January 2, 1996. Kaminski is a certified euthanasia technician and attended HSUS Animal Control Academy.
