Three Multnomah County corrections deputies are under new scrutiny after allegations of misconduct within the walls of Portland's jail. The deputies are accused of aiding assaults among inmates, providing contraband, and allowing unauthorized access to computers and personal cellphones from 2018 to 2020. Although they won't face criminal charges due to a lack of evidence, an independent investigation is now in motion, Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell announced.
Mirzet Sacirovic, Jorge Troudt, and Gustavo Valdovinos have been riding the bench on paid administrative leave since September 2022, the revelation of their alleged misconduct leading to a probe by Oregon State Police. The inquiry found enough proof to consider, but the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office decided the proof wasn't solid enough to convict, according to OregonLive. Deputy DA JR Ujifusa pointed to the questionable credibility of jail witnesses and the staleness of the claims as the primary reasons for not pressing charges, as stated in a memo.
“The alleged conduct outlined in the Oregon State Police investigative records is egregious and unacceptable. I will not tolerate conduct of this nature within our organization,” Sheriff Morrisey O’Donnell declared in a statement obtained by KOIN.
The initial red flag went up in April 2022 when two individuals stitched up in a racketeering case spilled the beans about supposed goings-on in the clink, suggesting deputies engaged in "door popping" – a sleight of hand that let the accused remotely unlock cells to brew up inmate scuffles, especially favoring those tied to the Hoover Gang. Moreover, reports from investigations shared by KGW revealed discrepancies in guard reports and victim accounts surrounding assaults, which were frequently chalked up as self-harm or rule violations by the involved inmates.
Morrisey O’Donnell's office has kitted out the facility with new security cams and tech to track the comings and goings of cell doors. An inspector has also been appointed to eyeball the internal affairs unit, the sheriff's statement noted.
