Salem, Oregon – A lawsuit filed in Marion County Circuit Court is casting a shadow over the Oregon State Police’s integrity and its handling of internal investigations. A former state trooper filed a lawsuit accusing the OSP and the Oregon State Police Officers Association (OSPOA) of colluding to cover up misconduct among their ranks.
Allegations of Collusion and Misconduct
At the heart of the lawsuit are allegations of a clandestine arrangement between the OSPOA and OSP officials, purportedly aimed at quashing an investigation into a high-ranking supervisor accused of maintaining a relationship with a subordinate. According to the legal complaint, the union proposed to abandon its quest for the investigation’s findings on the condition that OSP supervisors halt their probes into six other union members accused of serious misconduct. This alleged quid pro quo is said to have led to the dropping of investigations that included charges of insubordination, dishonesty, and engaging in sexual activities while on duty.
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The suit further claims that the OSP did not report these misconduct allegations to either the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training or the relevant District Attorney’s Offices, as would be customary. Moreover, it is alleged that records pertaining to the investigation have been destroyed, adding a layer of opacity to the proceedings.
The focus of the dispute is a supervisor identified only by his initials, Major A.H., who is believed to be Maj. Andy Heider, leader of OSP’s Workforce Development & Support Bureau. Despite the gravity of the allegations and a formal request by OSPOA for a copy of the investigative report, the outcome remains murky, with Heider seemingly undisciplined. The OSP’s refusal to release the investigation’s findings, citing Oregon law that seals records not resulting in disciplinary action, has only intensified scrutiny.
Dispute and Dismissal
The controversy is underscored by the grievances of Michael Kendoll, the former trooper behind the lawsuit, who contends his dismissal for misconduct was unjust and disproportionate. Kendoll was terminated following an investigation that concluded he had engaged in inappropriate conduct while on duty and subsequently lied about it. A memo from a Clackamas County prosecutor questioned Kendoll’s integrity as a witness, detailing allegations of on-duty physical intimacy and dishonesty during the investigation.
Kendoll’s lawsuit portrays the investigation into his conduct as fundamentally flawed, arguing it violated his due process rights and led to his unwarranted termination. He is now seeking $8 million in damages, challenging the OSP’s decision-making and the fairness of his firing.
OSP spokesperson Capt. Kyle Kennedy has refrained from commenting in detail on the pending litigation but has questioned the veracity of the allegations, suggesting that the lawsuit contains misleading and false statements. According to Kennedy, Kendoll’s dismissal was a justified response to his dishonest behavior.