BEND, OR -- A candidate for Deschutes County Sheriff is taking legal action against the agency. In the tort claim filed this week by Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp’s attorney, Vanderkamp says when announced his intention to run for office, outgoing Sheriff Shane Nelson tried to prevent him from interacting with the public and targeted him for various internal investigations. Nelson has endorsed Capt. William Bailey in the November election.
The document also alleges his opponent and the recently appointed Undersheriff Paul Garrison have "a vendetta against Vander Kamp." Click HERE to read the full filing.
Sgt. Vander Kamp's attorney has filed similar claims over the last several months for three other Sheriff's Office employees who say they faced retaliation for not supporting Capt. Bailey's run for Sheriff. Attorney Andrew Mittendorf told Central Oregon Daily News, "Really, none of these guys want to do this. They just feel like they have to at this point, to protect their careers, and also to protect the election integrity." He went on to say, "It is politics. But it certainly is not a calculated move by the Vander Kamp campaign. It just happened to be the timing that it is."
Through a statement from his campaign, Sgt. Vander Kamp said in part, "As your next Sheriff, I will have no tolerance for attempts by authoritarian regimes to exploit our democratic system." He went on to say, "I will not stand for the targeting, harassing or violating consitutional rights of anyone, including Sheriff's Office employees."
A DCSO spokesperson issued a statement to KBND News saying, "The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office does not agree with the contents of the filing and is prepared to defend its position if necessary."
KBND News also reached out to Capt. Bailey for a response to the court filing. He sent a statement saying, "On the same day my opponent is threatening to sue a vital public safety agency, I am pushing forward my plan to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire by clearing homeless camps near China Hat Road. I think improving public safety is what Deschutes County residents expect of their next Sheriff."
