State Police Spokesman Under Investigation: Sheriff

BEND, OR — Oregon State Police officials have placed Capt. William Fugate, the agency's spokesman, on paid administrative leave pending a criminal investigation initiated by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.

Without providing any detail as to the nature of the investigation, DCSO spokesman William Bailey said the process was sparked by an anonymous report received just before 8 p.m. Feb. 27.

OSP Superintendent Travis Hampton said he placed Fugate on leave Feb. 28 after Deschutes County authorities told him Fugate was being investigated.

"The Oregon State Police is grateful for the immediate and professional response by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, to allegations involving our employee," Hampton said in a statement. "We are appreciative for the timely notification to our agency, so duty status determinations could be immediately made. OSP has the utmost confidence in (Deschutes County Sheriff L. Shane Nelson) and his investigators to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation."

If criminal charges are filed against Fugate, an 11-year OSP veteran, OSP officials will reportedly change his leave status to unpaid.

"This investigation involves a high-level commander in a professional law enforcement agency. We are in the beginning stages of this investigation and want to balance transparency with our duty to protect the integrity of the investigation," Nelson said. "We take these investigations seriously and will always do the right thing. In all criminal investigations, we respect our citizen's rights as we investigate to gather the facts."

Image via Deschutes County Sheriff's Office