Bend OLCC manager under investigation, on paid leave

Oregon Liquor Control Commission Bend Regional Manager Katie Siefkes is on paid administrative leave pending the results of an investigation, the agency confirmed to NewsChannel 21 Monday, not divulging details because it’s a personnel matter.

OLCC spokeswoman Christie Scott said Siefkes was placed on leave Aug. 31. Scott said Siefkes is the only employee being investigated in the case, but would not say why she is on leave, only that it’s a “personnel matter, so I cannot discuss the reasons.”

Siefkes made headlines in 2013, when she was accused of secretly recording employees during a staff meeting. The Oregonian reported at the time that Siefkes called a staff meeting where workers were told they could air grievances without fear of retaliation. The OLCC said at the time the recordings were made for note-taking purposes.

A formal complaint eventual was filed with Bend police, but Deschutes County District Attorney Patrick Flaherty decided to drop the case after the OLCC pledged to ensure all employees were aware of future audio recordings.

In this latest investigation, Scott told NewsChannel 21 the commission is taking the matter very seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation before making any decisions.

Siefkes has been the Bend manager since 2012. Agency reports show she previously worked as a liquor license investigator and also as a reserve officer for the Bend Police Department.

The OLCC said it’s unclear how long the investigation will take.

In 2010, former Bend OLCC Manager Doitchin Krastev pleaded guilty to identify theft and passport fraud. Krastev had used the name ‘Jason Evers’ for nearly 20 years. It turned out Krastev was an illegal immigrant from Bulgaria who had used the name and birth date of a young Ohio murder victim.

Krastev spent two years in federal prison. Upon his release, he was deported to his native Bulgaria and banned from legal re-entry into the U.S. for at least 10 years.