Yesterday, we told you that a number of Republican state legislators in the Pacific Northwest may have been complicit in the Bundy brothers’ plot to take over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Specifically, they were well aware of the danger to public safety these thugs posed and didn’t tell anyone about it. Well, they may not be the only elected officials who have some explaining to do. The Oregon Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the actions of the sheriff in a county near the refuge.
Glenn Palmer, the four-term sheriff of Grant County–roughly two hours north of the refuge–was one of the strongest supporters of these thugs. He told the local newspaper, The Blue Mountain Eagle, that the Bundys and their friends weren’t thugs at all, but “patriots.” He actually went as far as to tell The (Portland) Oregonian that the FBI should have been the ones to stand down. Indeed, when most of the thugs were captured on January 26, they were on their way to a town hall meeting with Palmer. Palmer also shares many of the Bundys’ extreme anti-government views. He is a member of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, a far-right group that argues sheriffs have the legal authority to keep federal agents out of their jurisdictions.
But according to several of the complaints being investigated as part of a broader public corruption probe, Palmer is accused of going further than mere sympathy. The complaints were filed with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, which licenses police officers in Oregon. The department found the conduct described in the complaints so egregious that it asked for a criminal investigation. The Department of Justice not only has the option of filing criminal charges, but could also strip Palmer of his police certification–which would have the effect of removing him from office.
Richard Gray, the police chief of John Day, Grant County’s largest town, was not pleased that Palmer had lunch with two of the thugs, Jon Ritzheimer and Ryan Payne, in January. Ritzheimer and Payne are among those facing federal charges for their role in the standoff, and Payne faces additional charges for his role in the 2014 standoff at the Nevada ranch of the Bundys’ father, Cliven Bundy. Gray was also alarmed that Palmer attended the January 26 meeting “in full uniform” after previously saying that he wouldn’t be at the meeting. In a colossal understatement, Gray said that there is “a great public safety concern” when a sheriff openly meets with armed thugs.
Valerie Littrell, John Day’s emergency dispatch manager, was also alarmed that Palmer was present at the January 26 meeting. In a complaint filed a little more than 24 hours after the thugs’ capture, Littrell said that federal and state officials were so concerned about Palmer’s closeness with the thugs that they considered him “a security leak.” Apparently they were concerned enough to keep local law enforcement completely out of the loop on the planned takedown.
According to Littrell, Palmer headed to the roadblock after the shootout at which LaVoy Finchum, one of the thugs, was killed. He radioed dispatch for information. However, word got out that someone was in the car with Palmer. The dispatcher thought it may have been one of the thugs, and was reluctant to give “vital and confidential information to someone who may not be trustworthy.” She even went as far as to alert state troopers of this possibility. It turned out that the passenger was the area district attorney. Still, Littrell was outraged that Palmer was even at the meeting in the first place. She believes that had he simply stayed home, things would have ended more peacefully–and Finchum might still be alive.
Gordon Larson, a former area commander with the Oregon State Police, thinks Palmer’s actions were unethical at best. He told Oregon Public Broadcasting that when law enforcement even appears to lend credence to someone, “it emboldens them.” He also bluntly stated that the fact Palmer was hanging around these thugs proves that “his law enforcement leadership is lagging.”
Larson puts the matter far better than anyone could. Why would any law enforcement officer hang around people who posed such a threat to public safety that they literally ground an entire county to a halt? For that reason alone, Palmer needs to go now while he can still go decently.
