A fiery lawsuit has hit the Oregon State Police (OSP), lobbed by a former trooper claiming the agency harbored a culture of misconduct and then canned him for lesser offenses. According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, the trooper, Michael R. Kendoll, is demanding a whopping $8 million for what he alleges to be unjust firing.
The lawsuit, filed in Marion County Circuit Court, argues that high-ranking supervisor Major A.H., identified by Willamette Week as Maj. Andy Heider, was in a relationship with a subordinate, but skipped disciplinary action thanks to a backdoor deal. Despite allegations of "sustained findings of insubordination, dishonesty, and sex on duty," which were seemingly brushed under the rug in exchange for union compliance, the OSP claims Kendoll's accusations are inflated and baseless.
Yet, the agency's hands appear to be somewhat tied when it comes to commentary. "OSP is committed to creating a culture of excellence and accountability and we take all allegations of misconduct seriously and investigate them fully," stated Capt. Kyle Kennedy, a spokesman for the OSP, attempting to quell rising doubts stirred by Kendoll's lawsuit. The deal alleged in the lawsuit supposedly shelved unwanted attention on six other union members' investigations in favor of suppressing the report on Heider.
Adding to the drama, Kendoll, who was fired after investigators claimed he had "inappropriate consensual physical contact while on duty, in uniform, in his patrol car" and lied about it, attests he was sacked on shaky grounds. "If they're going to say people are dishonest, people need to be treated consistently," Kendoll's lawyer, Dan Thenell told The Oregonian/OregonLive, hinting at deeper inconsistencies within the OSP's disciplinary actions. Yet, records of the controversial investigation have been destroyed, further muddying the waters surrounding the claims.
The allegations cast a lingering shadow on OSP's image, already tarnished by past settlements involving whistleblower claims, and a separate case that forced an apology from the state police superintendent for a trooper's use of excessive force—the trooper in question remains on duty despite an extensive history of similar incidents. Meanwhile, the president of the Oregon State Police Officers Association, Michael Lopez, swiftly repudiated claims of union wrongdoing, labeling any such allegations as "baseless." Whether the suit's fiery accusations will burn a pathway to reform within Oregon's premier law enforcement agency, or simply fizzle out in legal proceedings, remains to be seen.
