A Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said one of its deputies has been placed on leave, facing both an internal affairs and a criminal investigation. The announcement comes three months after the deputy was stripped of his detective status and suspended after allegedly using his position to try to be served alcohol at a bar after the bartender cut him off.
DCSO said Monday that Deputy Kyle Pettit was placed on administrative leave on April 20, pending the outcome of the investigations. The criminal probe is being handed by Oregon State Police.
The announcement from DCSO did not go into specifics about why Pettit was under investigation. But when asked to clarify if the announced actions are in addition to the previous discipline that was handed down. Sgt. Jason Wall responded, “These are separate incidents and separate investigations.”
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DCSO said that any information about the newly announced criminal investigation will come from Oregon State Police or the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. If the internal investigation finds any policies were violated, personnel action will be determined at that time.
The previous incident was reported by Central Oregon Daily News reported on in July. The details of that came from a May 10 document filed by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
“During the late evening hours of June 5, 2022, while off-duty, Deputy Kyle Pettit was consuming alcoholic beverages at the South Side Pub in Bend, Oregon,” the description of findings reads. “At one point, the bartender refused to serve him more alcohol. In response, Deputy Pettit showed the bartender his Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office identification, told her he was a deputy sheriff, and that he was presently working — all in hopes that she would serve him more alcohol. 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 policy violations in the document include the law enforcement code of ethics, conduct unbecoming, dishonesty, integrity and official misconduct.
According to the May 10 document, Pettit lost his position as a detective and was reassigned to the patrol division. He was also suspended for one day without pay. He faced two more days of suspension if he had another policy violation before May 10, 2024.
In its Monday announcement, DCSO said that any information about the new criminal investigation will come from Oregon State Police or the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office. If the internal investigation finds any policies were violated, personnel action will be determined at that time.
