Oregon public safety board revokes certifications police, correctional officials

The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Board revoked the public safety certifications of three police officers and two corrections officers Thursday following investigations into allegations of misconduct on and off the job.

The board made the decisions after reviewing the department's professional policy committee's investigations and recommendations and voted to not take action in other cases involving public safety officials' certifications.

The policy committees, including the Police Policy Committee and Corrections Policy Committee, investigate cases based on factors such as moral fitness violations, which include dishonesty, misuse of authority and misconduct. They also consider aggravation and mitigating factors.

Brock Ameele, Bend Police Department

The DPSST board revoked the basic, intermediate and advanced police certifications of Brock Ameele, who was fired from the Bend Police Department on Oct. 12, 2022, for arresting, seizing and using unreasonable force when he tackled a man without cause.

The man Ameele arrested had been a passenger in a car pulled over during a traffic stop. The officer who made the stop had no reason to detain the man and told him he was free to go. According to an investigation, Ameele heard the interaction over a police radio, found the man walking down the street and followed him for about a tenth of a mile, asking him investigative questions and shining his light at him. Ameele then tackled him from behind and arrested him for Interfering with a police officer. Ameele charged the man without cause and against direct orders of a sergeant.

After an internal investigation, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz found Ameele violated 10 policies.

Investigators said Ameele also destroyed evidence from a department-issued phone and withheld evidence from an internal investigation.

Seth Holbrook, Department of Corrections: Coffee Creek Correctional Facility

The DPSST Board revoked the basic corrections certifications of former Coffee Creek Correctional Facility employee Seth Holbrook, who was convicted in March 2023 of stalking and second-degree criminal trespass.

The DPSST opened a case on Holbrook after his August 2022 arrest. Holbrook resigned from his corrections facility position a week before his arrest.

Andrew Johnson, Lincoln City Police Department

The DPSST Board took no action on the police certification of Lincoln City Police officer Andrew Johnson. The police department had found Johnson violated policy standards after he brandished his firearm and attempted to arrest a South Beach U-Haul employee during an off-duty fight.

The department determined Johnson violated the standards of conduct and off-duty law enforcement policies, and he was suspended for 24 hours. The Police Policy Committee recommended no action.

Richard Markillie, Douglas County Sheriff's Office

The DPSST Board revoked the basic, intermediate and advanced corrections certifications of former Douglas County Sheriff's employee Richard Markillie.

Markillie was fired after an investigation found he neglected his duty of office, endangered his peers, and failed to respond and render aid when a Douglas County Jail inmate repeatedly struck another deputy with food trays at a dining table.

Markillie challenged his termination, but an arbitrator in the case found the sheriff's office had cause to fire him.

Brandon Petersen, Tigard Police Department

The DPSST Board took no action on the police certifications of former Tigard Police officer Brandon Petersen, who was fired in November 2019 for failing to sweep the front of an arrestee's front waistband, allowing them to bring a loaded handgun into the Washington County Jail's vestibule.

In May 2019 during a DUII arrest, Petersen patted the driver down twice but failed to pat down his front waistline both times. During the intake search, a Washington County Sheriff's deputy found the loaded firearm.

Petersen didn't have a conversation with any jail staff and did not report the gun incident after it occurred. A sergeant asked about the incident after reviewing Petersen's portion of the incident report, and Petersen lied, saying "he was the one who found the handgun after taking only a few steps inside the intake area of the jail," according to the DPSST staff report.

Tyler Smith, Grant County Sheriff's Office

The DPSST Board revoked the basic police certification of Tyler Smith, who was fired from the Grant County Sheriff's Office in December 2019.

On Sept. 4, 2019, Smith was charged with four counts of second-degree child neglect. Oregon State Police arrested him five days later on suspicion of attempted rape, child neglect and assault. On Sept. 26, 2019, Smith was indicted for first-degree attempted rape, attempted sex abuse and fourth-degree assault charges.

The DPSST opened an investigation on Smith that month.

In November 2019, a Grant County Circuit Court judge dismissed the four counts of second-degree child neglect. And in November 2022, a jury acquitted him on the charges in the indictment.

Smith challenged his termination and was offered conditional reinstatement in November 2022.

In August 2023, Child Protective Services of Oregon substantiated a "disposition of child neglect " against Smith.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Christian Willbern at cwillbern@statesmanjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon police, correctional officials have certifications revoked