Sheriff van der Kamp could get $50,000 a year in retirement, despite board vote to revoke certification
Isabella Warren
(Update: Adding video, details on retirement)
Deschutes County commissioners plan to choose an interim sheriff next Tuesday
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– The board of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training voted Wednesday to accept a committee recommendation and revoke Sheriff Kent van der Kamp’s police certification permanently. But it won’t happen before his planned retirement next week, because he is contesting the decision, prompting a long appeal process.
Despite the decision, van der Kamp also could receive more than $50,000 a year in retirement benefits, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
The state’s public employees’ retirement system says van der Kamp’s pension will not be affected if his certification is revoked.
Van der Kamp was one of six officers around Oregon whose certification revocations were approved at the meeting – without discussion, as one consent agenda roll-call vote – two months after the recommendation by the department’s Police Policy Committee. But he’s one of few sheriffs to ever have that happen.
Despite the vote, van der Kamp will still have his certification after he retires next week. DPSST Communications Coordinator Sam Tenney tells KTVZ News that a “Notice of Intent to Revoke was issued for Sheriff van der Kamp’s certifications following the May 22 Police Policy Committee meeting. The notice of proposed revocation was issued on June 11, and Sheriff van der Kamp’s representative responded on June 27 to request a contested case hearing.”
The now-contested case will last past van der Kamp’s final date in office. He had announced earlier that he will retire as of July 31 and leave law enforcement, but DPSST says the process will continue despite his change in employment status.
Two months ago, the board recommended the DPSST Board impose a lifetime ban for van der Kamp after he was found to have lied under oath about his past education.
The Police Policy Committee first heard the results of the investigative report conducted by DPSST that cited numerous instances of misleading or dishonest statements over the years by van der Kamp, who was elected sheriff last fall over Captain William Bailey in a hotly contested race. Issues of truthfulness on the witness stand prompted Deschutes County DA to put van der Kamp on the “Brady List” of officers not to be called to testify.
Now, Tenney says, “The matter will be referred to the Office of Administrative Hearings, which will assign an administrative law judge to hear the case. There is a lengthy process before a final outcome will be reached in the case. There will likely be a pretrial conference to set deadlines and trial dates, a period of discovery, etc. After the hearing, it may take the ALJ several weeks to issue a proposed order, and when that happens, there is a period for exceptions to be filed. Any exceptions would need to be considered prior to DPSST issuing a final order.
“Sheriff van der Kamp’s certifications will remain valid until a final order is issued,” Tenney said, adding that if he had not contested the revocation, “it would have become final with the board’s decision.”
Meanwhile, Deschutes County commissioners are continuing the process of choosing van der Kamp’s interim replacement, until next year’s election. Five men have applied for the top-cop position. DCSO Detective and Special Services Commander Ty Rupert; DCSO Detective Lt. James McLaughlin, Deschutes County Undersheriff Aaron Wells, Former DCSO Captain Deron McMaster, and Bend Deputy Police Chief Paul Kansky.
Commissioners said they will speak individually with the interim sheriff candidates before a special board meeting planned for next Tuesday, when their intent is to make the appointment.
Isabella Warren will have a full report on the update to the van der Kamp saga Wednesday night on KTVZ News at 5:00 p.m.