Deschutes County Sheriff facing accusations of misconduct, lying under oath: reports

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The Deschutes County Sheriff has come under fire, facing accusations of being dishonest about his past, including allegedly lying about his education under oath, according to reports. 

According to Central Oregon Daily, these allegations led to Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels placing Sheriff Kent van der Kamp on the Brady list on April 11. The list is a record of law enforcement officers or personnel with credibility issues or a history of misconduct.

This means van der Kamp cannot ethically be called to testify in court because he previously lied under oath, according to the DA.

The investigation has left voters like Adrian Bennett uneasy.

"The credibility problem is pretty serious for the sheriff or for anybody," Bennett told Central Oregon Daily. "But in law enforcement, especially if you're going to use the use to testify in court."

First reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting and obtained by KOIN 6 News partner Central Oregon Daily, a draft report from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) noted Sheriff van der Kamp said under oath he attended both the University of Southern California and the University of Arizona when he attended neither. 

"Under oath and then change your mind and change it, have a different story for the next time you say it under oath," Bennett added. "I don't know how one thinks of how ones resolve that, frankly."

The DPSST report into van der Kamp also revealed he lied about his employment at a California police department years ago. 

On Wednesday, Van der Kamp told Central Oregon Daily he will decide within the next 90 days whether he will step down from office.

Those who voted for van der Kamp, like Bennett and Bend resident Tom Moses, say the recent news comes as a disappointment.

"I think he could decide quicker than that," Moses told Central Oregon Daily. "It seems to me like he doesn't really have a choice and he ought to just come to grips with it and move on and let's get somebody in there that we can respect."

Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler also released a statement calling for the sheriff to step down:

"As a former prosecutor, I know that any decision by a District Attorney to place a law enforcement officer on the Brady list is not taken lightly. It is a strong signal about that officer’s credibility. 

The office of Sheriff demands honesty, integrity, and transparency. Unfortunately, I don’t believe Sheriff van der Kamp can repair this break in public trust. I believe he should resign."

DPSST is scheduled to meet on May 22 to review the case, then will make a recommendation in July on whether or not to take away his ability to be a police officer in Oregon.

If revoked, van der Kamp would not be a part of law enforcement in Oregon for anywhere from three years to a lifetime. However, the role of sheriff is an elected one and removing his certification would not remove the title.