News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Well, now we know — at least in general — the nature of Deschutes County Sheriff’s candidate Kent Vander Kamp’s transgressions in La Mesa, California, nearly three decades ago.
On Friday, Vander Kamp announced that he had obtained confidential personnel documents from La Mesa that he’d never seen before. Vander Kamp served as an unpaid reserve cadet in a program that grew out of a Boy Scouts Explorer program.
“After high school, the explorer program pointed me toward college-level criminal justice electives at Grossmont College in San Diego, which led to an unpaid, less-than-full-time volunteer position with the La Mesa Police Department. This opportunity allowed me to apply my college classes in real-world situations.
“However, after completing the college program and volunteering in late 1997, I was apparently dismissed from the volunteer position for using speed radar equipment without proper certification. Another allegation included failing to report a visit to a gas station and assisting a Police Officer on my activity logbook. This allegation was resolved with corrective training that ended with a positive review from the trainer. While the remaining allegations were dismissed, I only recently learned of my dismissal through these internal documents after reading them for the first time yesterday.”
The documents Vander Kamp received did not include a dismissal or disciplinary letter addressed to him. However, he acknowledges that he made mistakes.
“I was young, immature, and inexperienced at that time, and I regret my actions. These incidents do not represent who I am today nor reflect the commitment I’ve shown to public safety in Deschutes County over the past 22 years. With time and experience, I’ve learned valuable lessons and take full responsibility for my past errors.”
The Nugget verified that the records exist and that the incidents recounted therein are as Vander Kamp characterized them. As of press time Vander Kamp could not release the document in his possession to media because a California judge, apparently leery of confidential personnel records being used for political purposes, released them under protective order. Vander Kamp also said that he is under a gag order on the matter from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. DCSO has not fulfilled The Nugget’s public records request for the personnel documents. They, too, would fall under the California judge’s protective order.
Vander Kamp told the media that, “My legal team is in the process of obtaining additional documents and information from the City of La Mesa that will clarify my separation from the La Mesa Police Department and will not violate the California protective order or the DCSO gag order. When we receive these documents and information, I will work with my legal team to release them for review.”
Vander Kamp clarified to The Nugget that he did not include the La Mesa PD experience in his application at DCSO 20 years ago, nor on his candidate filing because it was part of his education, not work experience.
“It was never set up as a job,” he said.
There is no indication at this point that there is anything disqualifying in this background. Some voters will likely see it as much ado over very little, and that a very long time ago. It is a dicey business for retiring Sheriff Shane Nelson to put the candidate running against his preferred successor under investigation at the outset of a campaign, even if he justifies it as due diligence. At the very least, it has the appearance of using the process to punish: Put “the opponent” under legal scrutiny, constrain his ability to respond, allow the perception of potentially serious misconduct to linger and fester. The perception of this investigation as politically motivated is amplified by recent complaints that DCSO’s culture is rife with suppression of opinion and retaliation for political views. The California judge is wise to be concerned about political use of personnel records.
This is the kind of thing that turns people off to politics and politicians. We recognize that politics is a blood sport, and sheriffs’ races with two candidates from within the agency have a tendency to turn nasty. We’ve seen it here before. That this is common doesn’t make it any less distasteful. Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp and Captain William Bailey have both worked for DCSO for more than two decades. They have served the public well. They are supposed to be teammates, not contenders in a win-or-die game of thrones.
Captain Bailey should disavow the tactics of insinuation and run on his own substantial record. Vander Kamp should be able to do the same.
Sisters voters have a choice between candidates who are actually pretty closely aligned in their priorities and approach to law enforcement. Bailey has broad administrative experience in all aspects of the agency’s work; Vander Kamp has substantial private sector business experience. Bailey is well-regarded in Sisters for his work as a public information officer and leading the transition to a Sisters-based cadre of deputies to serve the community. Vander Kamp has won accolades for his work with the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team. Bailey is endorsed by Sheriff Shane Nelson; Vander Kamp is endorsed by the Deschutes Sheriff Employee’s Association.
The candidates should fight out the remaining few weeks of this election on the merits — who they are and have been as employees of DCSO for 20-plus years, and their vision of the future of the agency.
Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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