Criminal Investigation Inititated Into OSP Captain (Photo) -03/01/18

Released by: Sgt. William Bailey Public Information Officer (All media inquiries should be directed to Sgt. Bailey at william.bailey@deschutes.org) Release Date: March 1, 2018 NARRATIVE: The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has initiated a criminal investigation into Captain William Fugate of the Oregon State Police after receiving an anonymous report on February 27, 2018 at 7:52pm. We are in the early stages of this investigation and will not be releasing any specific information at this time about the nature of the investigation. The investigation is not related to his employment or on duty conduct. Captain William Fugate has been an OSP employee for approximately 11 years and is currently assigned as the agency public information officer (PIO). He was placed on paid administrative leave on February 28th, when OSP was notified of the criminal investigation initiated by our office. If criminal charges are filed, OSP's practice has been to modify the administrative leave to an unpaid administrative leave status. Sheriff L. Shane Nelson said, "This investigation involves a high-level commander in a professional law enforcement agency. We are in the beginning stages of this investigation and want to balance transparency with our duty to protect the integrity of the investigation. We take these investigations seriously and will always do the right thing. In all criminal investigations, we respect our citizen's rights as we investigate to gather the facts." Travis Hampton, Superintendent, Oregon State Police said, "I placed Captain Fugate on administrative leave once I learned of the criminal investigation initiated by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office. The Oregon State Police is grateful for the immediate and professional response by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, to allegations involving our employee. We are appreciative for the timely notification to our agency, so duty status determinations could be immediately made. OSP has the utmost confidence in Sheriff Nelson and his investigators to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation."