31-07-2025
Deschutes County selects interim sheriff after report revealed incumbent's misconduct
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Deschutes County has tapped a new sheriff, just days after the incumbent was stripped of his certification amid a misconduct investigation.
On Tuesday, the Board of Commissioners appointed Ty Rupert as new interim sheriff of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. He will replace Ken van der Kamp, after his certification was unanimously revoked by the Board of Public Safety Standards and Training last Thursday.
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Van der Kamp was from his role on July 31. The announcement came after the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training released a report that when claiming he attended the University of Southern California and the University of Arizona. Investigators also determined he had lied about his previous employment at a California police department.
In response to the report, Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels named van der Kamp to the 'Brady list' — which includes law enforcement officers who are believed to have credibility issues or a history of misconduct. His placement also means he can no longer be ethically called to testify in court.
Van der Kamp was sworn in as sheriff in January, following his nearly 60% victory over competitor William Bailey in the November 2024 election. County officials reported that he had been with the sheriff's office for more than 20 years, with previous roles as a patrol sergeant, criminal detective and internal affairs investigator.
The Oregon State Sheriffs' Association has since from the Board of Directors. Public safety advocates followed suit a month in June, launching a recall campaign for van der Kamp amid the scandal. The Deschutes County Sheriff Employee's Association also directed him to pay back the money he received for legal representation amid last year's election.
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The county will vote for its next permanent sheriff in May 2026.
'I believe we need to give the Sheriff's Office employees a leader they can believe in and that they can trust and that they can get behind as they are trying to do their important work from day to day for the next 10 months,' Commissioner Phil Chang said on Tuesday. 'Man of them have lived under a cloud, for not just the last seven months, for four years. A dark leadership cloud and it's an incredibly important priority for me to change and give them someone tehy can again believe in and get behind.'
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