State police board seeks investigation of Grant County sheriff who met militants

[passiveporcupine]

Source: Oregon Live

The state agency that licenses Oregon police officers has asked the state Justice Department to investigate Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer, who met with leaders of the armed occupation of the wildlife refuge and then was scheduled to speak at a community meeting featuring the occupiers.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/02/state_police_board_seeks_inves.html#incart_big-photo

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Thank you!

We also have a state house member who needs to be removed (Greg Walden).

We don't need people in government who stand with militants against government. I don't care if they are republican or democrat. We need to get these people out of office.

[brush]

1. I thought it was out of line too for a sherrif to sympathize and hold a meeting with the Malhuer . .

crazies, but after where and how the arrests unfolded, I thought maybe he was working with the FBI and the other county sheriff to get the armed terrorists all out on the road and away from the refuge where they could all be taken down with the lease danger to them, LEOs and bystanders.

It worked out pretty well except for the hot-headed Blue Tarp man ran the first roadblock then decided to commit suicide by cop.

It'll be interesting to see what comes out of this investigation.

[passiveporcupine]

2. No, he was not working with the FBI

He really does support the whole damn militant movement to give the land back to the ranchers and miners and loggers.

[brush]

5. In that case, I hope he gets what's coming to him.

Not smart for a law enforcement officer to side with those loons.

Guess he didn't want his career as a sheriff to continue.

[2naSalit]

10. He certainly doesn't honor his oath of office....nt

[getagrip_already]

3. you do realize...

you just indicted about half of the republican congressional delegation.

Not that I'm complaining.

[mgmaggiemg]

6. agree ;)

it just fueled the occupation

[Xithras]

4. They can't remove him from office.

They can revoke his right to act as an officer of the law, but not his position as sheriff.

FYI, in many parts of the country you don't have to be a law enforcement officer to be a sheriff. "Sheriff" is simply an elected position that has oversight over the counties law enforcement agencies (kind of the same way that school board members and supervisors don't have to be teachers or have any educational background to hold those offices). As it happens, most sheriff's ARE law enforcement officers simply because their experience in the field makes it easy to show voters that they're qualified for the position, but nearly anyone can run for the seat.

I live in a county that doesn't require the Sheriff to be a law enforcement officer. About a decade ago, we had a popular member of our board of supervisors term limit out of office. He ran for the sheriff's spot and won it based on name recognition alone, despite having no law enforcement experience whatsoever. It happens.

Unless the county has a specific ordinance requiring it, Oregon does not require sheriff's to be law enforcement officers. The state can strip him of the right to patrol, to arrest and to appear in court as a police officer, but they can't remove him from office.

[passiveporcupine]

7. I don't know how this all works, but

The complaints and details of the allegations weren't immediately available, but the licensing agency notified at least one complainant that if the allegations were true, Palmer's conduct would violate state regulations.

He is currently seeking re-election. I hope the citizenry are smart enough not to vote for him again. But, being Eastern rural Oregon, there may be enough on his side to vote him back in.

[Pedalman]

8. U.S. Attorney needs to review

My thought is the Assistant United States Attorney who investigated the case is the person/agency that needs to be reviewing the actions of the Grant County sheriff.

[passiveporcupine]

9. New meme...pocket politics

One of the other militants who met with Palmer, Jon Ritzheimer of Arizona, said he was one of those who met with Palmer. He said he and Payne autographed Palmer's pocket copy of the Constitution at the sheriff's request. Ritzheimer also is facing a federal charge for his role in the occupation.

I like it.

[KT2000]

11. Good to see order is being made

out of the chaos. To let any of these people to get away with what they did would signal a green light for every loon in this country. A sheriff standing against law enforcement must be a violation.

[zentrum]

12. Pretty scary that

…..an officer of the law is supporting them so publicly. For him to even think he could get away with this indicates to me there's a climate of militarism or anti-Americanism in the whole area.

Damn RW radio and FOX and all the rest, chipping away for two decades at the Constitution and making racial injustice perfectly okay. Trump is only the latest symptom of it. He's like the Sheriff—able to appear in public and spout his hatred without hesitation. it's appalling that he hasn't been shut down from day one by national outrage. Saturday Night LIve even cuddles up to him.