DCSO tallies refuge patrol costs, seeks reimbursements

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has tallied its costs and said it spent over $100,000 sending personnel to Harney County during the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge takeover earlier this year.

The state plans to reimburse the county for most of that, and the sheriff said they will seek the rest from federal officials.

Sheriff Shane Nelson told NewsChannel 21 Friday his office is working with the Oregon Sheriff’s Association to get the money spent on overtime, equipment and personnel returned back to his agency.

The Legislature set aside $2 million earlier this year to reimburse state and local agencies that were called in to help with patrols during the 41-day standoff with armed militia members.

Nelson said the sheriff’s association is working with Gov. Kate Brown’s office at helping securing funding for several sheriff’s agencies across the state.

About two dozen Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, including members of the Special Operations Team, assisted the Harney County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police during the occupation.

Nelson said the DCSO’s total price tag for its work in Harney County was $169,505. The state has promised to reimburse the sheriff’s office $116,382, leaving $53,000 for the sheriff’s office to ask the federal government to pay back to the agency.

Brown’s office released this statement about the issue:

“Oregon State Police, state and local agencies, and local authorities were pivotal in maintaining public safety while supporting Federal agents in the Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupation response. The Legislature last session set aside $2 million to reimburse state agencies and local authorities for costs they incurred. Official, final costs are being determined, which will inform further discussions with Federal partners.”

The sheriff said his agency has been in contact with several federal officials including Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., about the cost.

“I know Representative Walden is aware of the situation and trying to work and do what he to get remedied,” Nelson said.

Walden’s office has been in contact with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell about the cost issue.

Walden’s office released this statement:

“At a recent hearing with Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Rep. Walden raised this issue with her. He urged the federal government to figure out a way to help cover some of the local costs, since this was a federal facility and because most of the people who were there were not from Harney County, let alone from the state of Oregon. He will continue to be helpful as needed, of course.”

Nelson said, “At the end of the day, I do absolutely believe the federal government should reimburse the local taxpayers and local public safety agencies.”

Sen. Jeff Merkley’s office also released a statement on the occupation cost for state and local law enforcement agencies.

“The armed occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge took a tremendous toll on the Harney County community, with steep financial as well as emotional costs. Sen. Merkley is advocating for the federal government to help recover as much of those costs as possible for the local community, and will keep pushing for Congress to take action this year.”