New details in Carney investigation

New details have emerged in the ongoing story regarding former Bend police Lt. Chris Carney.

NewsChannel 21 has learned one of the women in the police report said to have had sexual contact with Carney, a so-called “member of the media,” has retained legal counsel in the matter, and her attorney, Thomas E. McDermott, has released this statement:

“I represent the ‘media person’ referenced in the recently released investigation report involving a former Bend police lieutenant,” the attorney wrote. “My client did not have a sexual relationship with him. There was a single incident when the lieutenant kissed her but then apologized for his mistake and that was the end of it. As reported elsewhere, the police never bothered to contact her before releasing their report.”

“The unwanted and undeserved publicity and speculation has been devastating to my client and her family. She does not want her name associated publically with this scandal as it could seriously damage her reputation and career, despite her having done nothing wrong. This is a reasonable request that we ask all media to respect,” McDermott added.

There have been media accounts and speculation that a member of the media may have acted outside the normal bounds of professional reporter-police relations. Our (NewsChannel 21’s) own investigation does not reflect that.

The police report redacted all names, and Bend Police Chief Jeff Sale has been quoted as saying no member of the police ever contacted any member of the media to corroborate Lt. Carney’s statements.