Oregon public safety board revokes 4 officers' licenses after misconduct allegations
The Oregon Board of Public Safety Standards and Training revoked the public safety licenses of one police, one fire and two correctional officers Thursday following reviews of allegations of misconduct on and off the job.
The decisions were made after reviewing recommendations of several professional committees that investigated the allegations.
The Department of Public Safety Safety and Training's policy committees — comprised of current and former field professionals — handled the investigations and made recommendations to the board.
DPSST revokes licenses of 4 public safety officers
Scott Aardappel, Columbia River Correctional Institution
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office fired Aardappel in 2006 after he "inappropriately represented himself as a sworn member of the agency and failed to report the abuse of a child as required by ORS 419B.010."
An investigation by sheriff's office and the Portland Police Bureau that year found Aardappel "failed to report a sexual relationship between an adult and a minor." He was later arrested and charged with official misconduct in the second degree, a misdemeanor. After pleading guilty, Aardappel was given 12 months probation.
In 2020, Aardappel was hired by Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland, which triggered a DPSST investigation. According to DPSST documents, "Aardappel has been employed as a public safety professional for four non-consecutive years and has not obtained any DPSST certifications." The Corrections Policy Committee unanimously recommended revocation of his license.
Matt Carballo, Dallas Police Department
Dallas Police terminated Carballo from probationary employment in November 2019 following his Oct. 22, 2019, arrest for driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. Carballo was arrested again Dec. 2, 2019, for driving with a suspended license and failing driver property damage duties.
The Police Policy Committee found Carballo was dishonest when he told Dallas Police that he was not the driver of the vehicle that hit a 7-Eleven, did not take responsibility for his actions and left the scene of an accident.
The committee voted unanimously June 12 to recommend revocation of Carballo's license and that he be ineligible to hold a public safety certification for 10 years. The board Thursday accepted this revocation.
Robert Dennis, Santiam Correctional Institution officer
Dennis resigned Dec. 31, 2019, as a correctional officer at the Santiam Correctional Institute in Salem following an investigation to terminate him on allegations of on-the-job misconduct, including sleeping on the job and leaving the cafeteria during mealtime, which reduces supervision of inmates.
Dennis also allegedly made several comments to subordinates that undermined the safety and supervision abilities of staff.
Information from Santiam Correctional Institute's investigation into Dennis' behavior led the Correction Policy Committee to in May recommend a revocation. The board accepted the revocation.
Gail Freer, formerly of the Siletz Fire District
Greer and a son were charged with poaching two, 8-month-old black bear cubs on private land in October 2022.
Oregon State Police found the cubs dead after an anonymous tip to the Turn in Poachers (TIP) Line. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said both cubs were left to waste and troopers were unable to find their mother. Greer and her son were ordered to pay $15,000 in damages, lost their hunting privileges for three years and were placed on probation for 60 months, ODFW said in May.
“This was a combination of trespassing, poaching and leaving an animal to waste,” said Stop Poaching campaign coordinator Yvonne Shaw. “This demonstrates an attitude of lawlessness while they deprive others of the experience of encountering or hunting these animals during a legal season.”
The Fire Policy Board recommended revocation by a six to one vote. The board Thursday revoked Freer's public safety certification.
DPSST motioned to reconsider 1 case
Marcus Risteen, Keizer Police Department
Keizer Police in 2018 terminated Risteen, who had been on the job for three months, after he allegedly lied to a Field Training Officer.
Risteen admitted, after a commanding officer said he would check the officer's bodycam footage, that he lied about his actions during a traffic stop.
The Police Policy Committee opened an investigation after Risteen was hired by the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office and scheduled to begin training in May.
The committee said in addition to dishonesty, Risteen's actions at the traffic stop reflected that he ignored instructions on a "very small task."
The DPSST board decided Thursday to send Risteen's case back to the Police Policy Committee for reconsideration after board members said a lifetime revocation was extreme for what they considered to be a "tier-two" offense.
DPSST took no action against these individuals
Jannalyn Farley, Eugene Police Department
Eugene Police terminated Farley on Oct. 23, 2019, for allegedly failing to report child abuse, lack of integrity and judgment, failure to report evidence and unsatisfactory performance in arranging CAHOOTS personnel to transport a juvenile who alleged physical abuse by a parent.
The Police Policy Committee review of Eugene Police Department's "investigative reports found elements of dishonesty, misuse of authority, and misconduct," according to meeting transcripts.
The transcripts said Farley was dishonest by omission and misrepresentation in arranging transport for a juvenile, and she "misused her authority while on duty by transporting a juvenile to a facility that was objectionable to the mother, did not tell the mother she was doing this, and did not write these facts in her reports."
Eugene Police declined to comment, according to spokesperson Melinda McLaughlin.
The investigating committee determined Farley's "conduct amounted to incompetence, not character," that she was overwhelmed and the police department understaffed, and that she was not intentionally misleading in her reporting and handling of the situation.
The panel recommended DPSST take no action against Farley's license. The board's decision Thursday to take no action means Farley can be employed in law enforcement.
Farley graduated from DPSST Basic Police Academy in March 2017, earning the Governor Victor G. Atiyeh award for most outstanding student in her class.
Zackary Ellis, Scio Rural Fire Department
Linn County Sheriffs arrested Ellis on Aug, 16, 2019, and he was charged with assault and strangulation after a domestic violence dispute against his girlfriend. He was a certified firefighter with the Scio Rural Fire Department at the time.
Ellis later pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault, a Class-A misdemeanor. After 24 months on probation, he applied for DPSST certification, prompting an investigation by the Fire Policy Committee, which recommended no action. The board concurred and Ellis can be recertified.
DPSST also took no action on the licenses another half-dozen other cases in which committees recommended doing nothing.
Charles Gearing is a breaking news and public safety reporter. He may be reached at cgearing@gannett.com or at (708) 262-7626.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon revokes 4 officers' licenses after misconduct allegations
