Interviews slow Prineville police chief investigation

Difficulty contacting witnesses in the military has slowed an investigation of Prineville’s police chief, who was put on leave last September for as-yet unrevealed reasons.

Over the past several months, officials have released few details about what sparked the investigation of Chief Eric Bush, beyond describing it as a “personnel matter” unrelated to the administration of justice.

The investigation has been handled by the Local Government Personnel Institute, which helps local governments in Oregon with labor issues.

The institute’s executive director, Diana Moffat, told NewsChannel 21 Sunday that “prior to being able to complete this investigation, our investigator is still trying to contact a number of witnesses who are in the military service of our country.”

Moffat could not say whether the witnesses serve with Bush, who is a brigadier general in the Oregon Army National Guard.

A 30-year veteran of the Guard, Bush has at times been called away from Prineville to fulfill his military obligations. He served in Iraq for 14 months in 2009-10.

Moffat said investigators’ latest estimates project they will complete their investigation within 30 to 60 days.