Oregon State Police sergeant files $5 million lawsuit alleging whistleblower retaliation

Michaela Bourgeois
·1 min read
3

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – An Oregon State Police sergeant filed a $5 million lawsuit against the state, alleging he was retaliated against after reporting misconduct concerns about a trooper recruit, according to court documents.

The lawsuit, filed April 24, states the sergeant was assigned to help train recruit troopers at the Department of Public Safety Standards Training Academy in January 2023.

The sergeant reported misconduct and credibility concerns regarding the trooper to his superiors, including a member of OSP who serves as captain of the Professional Standards Unit and deputy superintendent, according to court documents.

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The lawsuit alleges the sergeant’s complaints were “ignored,” and were not reported to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, claiming this follows a “pattern” of not reporting misconduct.

Three to four months after making the report, the sergeant was denied a promotion to a lieutenant position for OSP, the lawsuit claims, adding the sergeant “finished number one in the promotional process,” and “was actually told part of the reason he was not promoted was because of his report on the recruit trooper.”

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The lawsuit furthers that the state and the captain changed the promotion process when the sergeant applied for the lieutenant position in order to justify denying his promotion.

The sergeant claimed he was later placed on administrative leave for an alleged violation of policy and investigated before being coerced into taking a reassignment.

The sergeant seeks damages for loss of current and future wages, and claims he suffered emotional distress and anxiety because of the alleged retaliation.

Oregon State Police said due to the pending litigation, they do not have a comment at this time.

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