Deschutes County sheriff’s Capt. Erik Utter resigning

Deschutes County sheriff’s Capt. Erik Utter has announced he is resigning from the agency effective March 1, Sheriff Shane Nelson confirmed Friday.

Nelson said he can’t provide details on the reason for Utter’s departure because he cannot discuss personnel details about current sheriff’s office employees.

Utter made his decision known in an email to sheriff’s office colleagues late Wednesday, saying he was moving on “to explore other opportunities in the public and private sector.”

He also thanked the department and his colleagues, expressing confidence in Nelson’s leadership of the sheriff’s office.

In an email Friday to NewsChannel 21, Utter wrote, “I am extremely proud of my career and excited for what the future holds for me.”

The resignation comes the week after another sheriff’s captain, Scott Beard, was indicted on federal charges of theft, money laundering and passport fraud. It also comes as the department faces an ongoing state Department of Justice investigation into the Dec. 2014 drug-overdose death of Edwin Mays in the county jail.

The rank of captain is just below the sheriff in the agency’s organizational structure. Utter’s departure leaves one in place — Deron McMaster, who took command of the county jail after Nelson was promoted to sheriff last year on the retirement of Larry Blanton.

Nelson said McMaster and Utter had been sharing Beard’s duties since he was put on paid administrative leave last fall.

The sheriff told NewsChannel 21 Friday he plans to hire a new captain as soon as possible.

“There will be a selection process in the coming weeks to fill an open captain position,” Nelson said.

Utter’s online biography states that he “began his career in law enforcement when he was hired by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in 1995.”

“His initial assignment was as a resident patrol deputy in Spring River and La Pine. Since that time, he has worked as a criminal detective, Field Training officer, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Detective Lieutenant and coordinator of the Field Training and Evaluation Program. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in July of (last) year, and was assigned to the Patrol Division.”