Chief, dispatch manager complain sheriff’s support of militia endangered the public

[struggle4progress]

by Sean Hart
Blue Mountain Eagle
Feb. 19, 2016

John Day’s police chief and dispatch manager’s complaints that the Grant County sheriff’s support for the militia occupying the Malheur refuge endangered the public have been sent to the justice department for further investigation.

Chief Richard Gray and Dispatch Manager Valerie Luttrell were among at least eight who filed formal complaints against Sheriff Glenn Palmer with the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, which licenses Oregon police officers. The department sent the complaints to the Oregon Department of Justice recommending an investigation ...

Luttrell said in her complaint Palmer was openly supportive of the militia and met with members who are under investigation “for numerous felonious crimes.” She said Palmer’s support placed other law enforcement officials and the public at risk, because he was not trusted.

As the FBI and Oregon State Police planned to arrest the leaders of the refuge occupation on Highway 395 en route to a meeting in John Day Jan. 26, she said, they opted not to inform city and county law enforcement officials in Grant County out of concern Sheriff Glenn Palmer might be a “security leak” ...

http://www.bluemountaineagle.com/Local_News/20160219/chief-dispatch-manager-complain-sheriffs-support-of-militia-endangered-the-public

[Wounded Bear]

1. I remember there being some questions...

about the Sheriff's 'priorities.' At the very least, his next re-election might prove interesting.

[MagickMuffin]

2. K&R Off to the Greatest

Thx for the article!

[Photographer]

3. Important.

[Lizzie Poppet]

4. It should be noted that this IS NOT the Harney County Sheriff under discussion.

The article is about Glenn Palmer, the Sheriff of Grant County. Grant County is directly to the north of Harney County, where the incident occurred. It's not in Palmer's jurisdiction, and his presence was indeed an unwanted, unhelpful distraction.

I just wanted to make sure people realized that this is not about Dave Ward, the Harney County Sheriff who performed very well in a damned difficult situation. A couple of the initial responses seemed to me like they thought it was Ward.

[Hortensis]

6. Right. Sheriff Ward was strongly lauded by the FBI,

In closing, I want to thank Sheriff Ward for all of his hard work. I have never met a man who cares more about the people he serves, who cares more for the community in which he lives. No matter how you feel about the Hammonds or the situation at the refuge or the role that we have played here, Sheriff Ward has done exactly what he has promised to do since this all started back in November. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that the people he serves are safe, that they are heard, and that they can find a path back to normalcy.

[NBachers]

7. Thanks for pointing that out. I'd had a good impression of the Harney County sherriff

but since I'm not a local, I'm not tuned in to the individual counties and sherriffs.

[gratuitous]

9. Wasn't Grant County the destination?

When the Bundy Gang went for their last outing, I think they were headed to Grant County for a rally under the auspices of Sheriff Palmer.

[Lizzie Poppet]

10. I believe so.

Good thing they never made it, I'm thinking...

[randome]

5. If he's distrusted by other state and local officials, he needs to go. Period.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font][hr]

[Kingofalldems]

8. Alex Jones fan I bet.