Ex-OSP spokesman charged with domestic violence

(Update: New Hummel comments, OSP statement; Fugate to be placed on unpaid leave)

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel filed two charges Tuesday of misdemeanor harassment constituting domestic violence against Oregon State Police Capt. Bill Fugate, the agency’s former spokesman, in two incidents involving his wife at their home last year.

“A law enforcement officer in this community is not entitled to any special treatment because of his or her position. A law enforcement officer is just like all of us and need to obey the law,” Hummel said. “At the same time, law enforcement officers shouldn’t be treated worse. I shouldn’t say, ‘Because you’re an officer, we are going to charge you with a crime, to make an example.’ No – officers deserve no more deference from a district attorney than anyone else.”

Fugate, 42, of Redmond, was placed on paid administrative leave by the OSP on Feb. 28, the day after a complaint was received, prompting a criminal investigation, Sheriff Shane Nelson completed that two-month investigation and submitted his agency’s report to Hummel in late April.

Fugate’s estranged wife had obtained a restraining order against him, saying he threatened her last fall, was “very volatile” and possessed a gun. The restraining order prohibited Fugate from possessing firearms or going within 500 feet of his wife.

Hummel announced Tuesday that he had completed his legal review of the criminal allegations and that, “based on the facts and the law,” he’d charged Fugate with two counts of harassment constituting domestic violence, Class B misdemeanors.

“Domestic violence occurs far too often in our community and it doesn’t discriminate. Rich people and poor people commit domestic violence and are victims of domestic violence. Well connected people and average ‘Joes and Janes’ on the street commit domestic violence and are victims of domestic violence,” Hummel said. “People who are experiencing domestic violence or are survivors of domestic violence, they often feel isolated and alone and fear that they have no one to turn too.”

Hummel said the charges relate to incidents that occurred on May 22 and June 15 of 2017, at Fugate’s home. His wife was the victim in both alleged incidents.

The DA’s charging document, called an information, said Fugate is accused of intentionally harassing or annoying his wife by subjecting her “to offensive physical contact.”

Hummel said he also “reviewed five other domestic violence allegations against Fugate related to incidents that occurred between 2007 and 2016, but charges did not result because they are time barred by Oregon’s statute of limitations.”

Fugate is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Tuesday, July 10 at 1:15 p.m.

Oregon State Police issued a statement on the charges against Fugate:

“The Oregon State Police appreciates the prompt and thorough investigation by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the subsequent review by the District Attorney’s Office. Pursuant to OSP practices, we will immediately begin the due process procedure to modify Captain Fugate’s duty status to unpaid administrative leave, now that a charging instrument has been issued.

“The agency will manage a concurrent personnel investigation into Captain Fugate’s employment status, so not to interfere with the criminal investigation. Any inquiries into the status of the criminal investigation should be referred to the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office.”

Statement from Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton

“While Captain Fugate is entitled to due process, the Oregon State Police strongly condemns acts of domestic violence, which is especially alarming and disgraceful when involving a police officer. Conduct of this nature is grossly unacceptable and employees that engage in these actions have no place in law enforcement.”

Hummel said in a statement, “Unfortunately, domestic violence is far too common in our community. People are abused by people they love in rural and urban areas. Abusers and victims are rich and poor. Prominent and obscure people equally hurt their significant others. Survivors of domestic violence often feel trapped and helpless regardless of their resources.

“These allegations against William Fugate are similar to hundreds of domestic violence cases my office prosecutes every year,” Hummel said, adding, “We need to re-double our efforts to protect women from abusive partners.”