Candidate for Deschutes County Sheriff Says He’s Been Placed on Administrative Leave

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- One day after the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office announced three staff members had been placed on administrative leave due to misconduct allegations; Lt. James McLaughlin, who is a candidate for county sheriff, announced on Facebook, he is one of the employees.

McLaughlin's campaign posted this message:

Yesterday, James “Mac” McLaughlin was placed on paid administrative leave by the current interim sheriff – who is also his political opponent in the upcoming election.

Mac is running for Sheriff to put an end to the exact kind of systemic political targeting that this office has unfortunately become known for. The citizens of this county deserve an agency that is focused on public safety, not political theater.

While the allegations leading to this leave are unsubstantiated, Mac deeply respects the internal investigation process. He will cooperate fully and transparently, because that is the standard of leadership he intends to bring to the Sheriff’s Office. He has nothing to hide.

Our campaign has stated from day one that we will run with honor. We will not engage in retaliation or mudslinging, and we will not allow this distraction to slow us down. Mac’s commitment to the men and women of this agency, and to the citizens of this county, remains absolute.

The campaign continues at full speed. We look forward to seeing you on the trail.

The sheriff's office is not identifying the three staff members and informed KTVZ News there will be no further comment on the allegations or investigation at this time.

Sheriff Ty Rupert, who is the interim sheriff, says the investigation is being conducted by an independent party to ensure full transparency and accountability.

Below is his statement from Friday:

STATEMENT FROM SHERIFF TY RUPERT
FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2026

As your Sheriff, one of my greatest responsibilities is maintaining the trust and confidence of our community and our office. Today, I want to be transparent regarding a difficult decision I have made concerning members of our office. 

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office received two formal complaints from members of our community regarding the same incident, both alleging employee misconduct. 

After consulting with Command Staff, County Legal, the District Attorney’s Office, the Oregon State Police, and our Professional Standards Unit, I made the difficult decision to place three members of our office on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. I determined that placing these members on paid administrative leave was necessary to ensure a fair, thorough, and unbiased process for everyone involved, including the complainants and the employees named in the complaints. 

To ensure full transparency and accountability, I have also retained an independent outside investigator to conduct a comprehensive review of the allegations. 

We understand that situations like this can impact public trust, and we want our community and our office to know that this is an isolated incident, and we take these matters seriously. 

Out of respect for the integrity of the investigation and fairness to all parties involved, there will be no further media releases related to this issue at this time. I respectfully ask for the public’s patience while we work through this investigation. 

We want to assure our community that the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will continue providing the level of service, professionalism, and public safety our citizens deserve and expect during this difficult time.  

Ty Rupert 
Deschutes County Sheriff