Linn County Sheriff Jim Yon has announced the promotions of several Linn County Sheriff’s Office staff members.
Brandon Fountain has been promoted to patrol captain. He started as a Marine Patrol deckhand and was soon hired as a patrol deputy in 2008. Fountain also served as a mountain patrol deputy and as a detective specializing in narcotics, property and major crimes. In 2018, he was promoted to Patrol Sergeant and then to Patrol Lieutenant in 2020. He has served on the Linn County Regional SWAT team and is currently the SWAT Commander. Fountain has received the Life Saving and Division Employee of the Year awards.
“Brandon is hard working and dedicated to giving the citizens of Linn County excellent service,” Yon said. “He has always gone the extra mile for his community and his LCSO family. Brandon will do a fantastic job leading the Patrol Division.”
Beth Miller has been promoted to Patrol Lieutenant. She was hired as a patrol deputy in 2001 and has been involved in search and rescue, was a field training officer and was also a member of the traffic team. In 2005, she was assigned to the Detectives Division specializing in sex crimes. Her dedication to helping victims earned her the rank of Detective Sergeant in 2017, Yon said. She continued her career as a patrol sergeant before being promoted to lieutenant.
“Lt. Miller has a knack for connecting with people and is known for getting the job done,” Yon said.
New Patrol Sergeant Steve Frambes started with Animal Control in 2011 prior to coming over to the Sheriff’s Office as Dog Control Officer in 2014. In February 2015, he was sworn in as a patrol deputy and was assigned to south county. He became a Field Training Officer in March 2019 and in January 2020, he transferred into the Detective Division and worked property/major crimes.
Frambes was promoted to Patrol Sergeant on Sept. 1, 2020. He will supervise Mountain Patrol, Marine Patrol and is the contract city liaison. He is also a firearms instructor.
“Steve is a hardworking and dedicated employee,” Yon said. “He has done a great job at everything he does.”
New Dispatch Supervisor Amanda Catullo started with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center in 2012 after serving as a dispatcher at the Central Lane Dispatch Center. She received an office challenge coin in April 2021 after receiving a 911 call from an hysterical mother stating her infant child was not breathing.
Catullo walked her through the steps of clearing the baby’s mouth, calming the mother down, who was then able to clear the obstruction. Catu-llo was also working the night of the 2020 Labor Day fires and received a Joint Service Commendation for her efforts. In 2019, she was named LCSO Dispatcher of the Year.
“Amanda is a vital asset to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office family and we know she will continue to excel in her new role,” Yon said.