Would Schaier as sheriff be good for Sisters?

Last updated 5/13/2020 at Noon

Sheriff’s candidate Scott Schaier would have Sisters’ voters believe his work experience as a hospitality industry worker, a car salesman, a real estate agent and patrol level law enforcement officer should earn him their support this November.

How so?

Candidate Schaier has not completed even a two-year general education college degree. According to OSU he is listed as a student with them but not an active one. When asked how many credits he has, or when he projects graduating, Schaier will not say. He has never been promoted at either of the two law enforcement agencies he has or is working for. He is essentially a high school graduate and career patrol officer.

Schaier offers he “managed personnel and budgets” for an automobile agency. He leaves out the dealership he worked for was a family-owned business, a business that failed in 2010. The dealership, experiencing serious financial losses due to poor business decisions, closed its doors. Per Terry Schaier “We’ve been working with Nissan and our bank desperately, and the bank gave us word that they will not help us.” (https://signaltribunenewspaper.com/6579/news/schaiers-nissan-dealership-in-long-beach-no-longer-in-business/)

Schaier’s tenure with the Las Vegas Metro Police Department is likewise less than impressive. In October 2011, a federal lawsuit named him and other officers in multiple charges to include violation of the Fourth Amendment. Upon the trial’s conclusion the Municipality paid out $105,000 to the damaged parties. (https://busklv.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/settlement_lvmpd-fiscal-affairs_april-22-2013.pdf)

In 2018, the City of Bend paid out $800,000 after Schaier shot and killed Michael Tyler Jacques. The caveat being that Bend did not accept responsibility nor liability for the officer’s actions. (https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/bend-to-pay-800-000-to-shooting-victim-s-family/article_dd396714-ca11-50e8-9ab0-e4afebcb665f.html)

To date, Officer Schaier’s employers have remitted $905,000 to the victims of his actions while wearing a peace officer’s badge.

Schaier offers in lieu of the excellent contract just signed by Sheriff Shane Nelson with Sisters providing a fully staffed patrol team to the Sisters district, that he (Schaier) would have made Sisters “a special assignment detail” instead. By definition, a special assignment means “a job assignment that is expected to be temporary and is designated as a special assignment by the agency ... A special assignment may be full- or part-time and may consist of more than one part-time position in more than one tenure area.”

Sheriff Nelson listened to what Sisters residents and the city council said they needed and delivered a comprehensive patrol package at an excellent financial price point. Candidate Schaier would prefer to keep Sisters a backwater patrol concern, out of sight and out of mind.

Candidate Schaier told The Nugget (“Candidates vie for sheriff’s office,” April 21, 2020) “…I [have] a unique background and experience that I think would serve Deschutes County well.”

Why then not apply and compete for the chief’s position at Bend PD given Jim Porter’s pending retirement? Perhaps because Schaier’s “unique background and experience” does not match up to the job description and education required for the job. This to include having to pass and possess “…an extensive background check, Master’s degree in related field preferred. Licensing and Certification Requirements: Executive or Management Certification from Oregon DPSST or be able to obtain within two years of appointment CITY OF BEND.”

Two settlements totaling $905,000; a questionable fatal shooting; two patrol car crashes while with the Bend Police Department; leaving his patrol car engine running while away from the vehicle; leaving his patrol rifle in the vehicle at the end of his shift; no college degree; no supervisory or management experience as a law enforcement professional…

If Schaier is ineligible to even apply to the City of Bend for its chief’s position how is it that he is qualified – at least in his mind – to become the Chief Executive law enforcement officer for Deschutes County?

Short answer. He is not.

And if Candidate Schaier is not good for Deschutes County he is not good for Sisters, either.