Deschutes County Sheriff van der Kamp expelled from Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association board

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp, who has been barred from testifying at trials due to false information given from the witness stand, has been expelled from the Oregon State Sheriff's Association Board of Directors, the organization announced Monday.

The news of his removal in a unanimous vote by 32 fellow Oregon sheriffs comes just three days before van der Kamp is scheduled to appear before the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training's Police Policy Committee. The sheriff told KTVZ News late last month he would decide whether to resign within 90 days.

Here's the full announcement KTVZ News received Monday from the sheriffs' organization. We have reached out to the sheriff for any comment or statement:

"A few weeks ago, the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association (OSSA) learned that the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, led by District Attorney Steve Gunnels, had conducted a lengthy investigation into issues involving the truthfulness of Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp.  The investigation found that Sheriff van der Kamp had been untruthful about his educational credentials in multiple criminal cases.  As a result of this investigation, DA Gunnels determined that the DA’s office would no longer use Sheriff van der Kamp as a witness in any criminal trial – a status commonly referred to as being placed on the Brady list.

"Upon learning of this information, the OSSA Executive Committee met and determined that, under the OSSA Bylaws, the Board of Directors should decide whether to temporarily suspend or permanently revoke Sheriff van der Kamp’s position as a Director on the OSSA Board.  Sheriff van der Kamp was notified that this question would be presented to the OSSA Board at the Spring Conference, and that he would have an opportunity to address the Board before a decision was made. Sheriff van der Kamp did not appear to address the Board, nor did he submit any written materials for the Board to consider.

"On May 14, the Board met and considered the issue.  A motion was made to permanently expel Sheriff van der Kamp from serving as an OSSA Director.  The motion passed unanimously, with 32 Oregon sheriffs voting on the issue. Sheriff van der Kamp was immediately expelled from the OSSA Board of Directors. 

About the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association
The Oregon State Sheriffs' Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1916 to provide training and support to Oregon Sheriffs and their offices. "