DCSO deputy disciplined for Bend bar incident placed on leave amid new criminal, internal investigations

(Update: Deputy Pettit placed on leave; new off-duty incidents alleged)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Deschutes County sheriff’s deputy who was suspended for a day without pay and lost his detective assignment due to an incident at a Bend bar last year has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of new criminal and internal affairs investigations, the agency said Monday.

Oregon State Police conducted the criminal investigation of Deputy Kyle Pettit, Sergeant Jason Wall said, confirming to NewsChannel 21 that it involves "new incidents (and) new investigations."

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels told NewsChannel 21 late Monday, "We have received the referral (of the completed investigation) from OSP and are reviewing those police reports. We have not yet made a charging decision."

Gunnels said the investigation involved off-duty incidents between February and May of this year.

Wall said in a brief announcement, "At the conclusion of the internal investigation, a determination will be made if any policies were violated. If policies were indeed violated, the personnel action will be determined at that time."

He said any information about the outcome of the criminal investigation would be released by OSP or the DA's office.

Pettit earlier was suspended for a day without pay and his detective assignment was rescinded after he was found to have violated six agency policies by using his position to seek more alcohol at a Bend bar, records showed.

A brief announcement similar to Monday's was issued by the sheriff's office late last month when jail Lieutenant Joshua McGowan was placed on administrative leave, also pending a criminal investigation by OSP and internal affairs investigation by the sheriff's office. There is no indication the two personnel actions are related.

In a letter to the state Department of Public Safety, Standards and Training, sheriff’s Captain Paul Garrison said Pettit was at the South Side Pub on the late evening of June 5, 2022 when at one point the bartender refused to serve him any more alcohol.

“In response, Deputy Pettit showed the bartender his Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office official identification, told her he was a deputy sheriff, and that he was presently working – all in hopes that she would serve him more alcohol,” Garrison wrote.

“After being cut off by the bartender, the cook observed Deputy Pettit urinating on an electrical box outside the back door of the establishment,” the captain said.

The letter outlined two ethics and professional standards and four sheriff’s office standards that were violated, including integrity, official misconduct and dishonesty.

The agency recommended three days suspension, without pay, but imposed one day, with the other two days suspended, if he has no further policy violations in the next year. His assignment to a detective position was rescinded and he was reassigned as a deputy sheriff. The discipline was final when the Sheriff’s Employees Association did not file a grievance by this May, Garrison's letter stated.