University of Oregon Pays Its Police Chief to Leave Job

U of O spokesman Tobin Klinger made the announcement of Chief Carolyn McDermed's departure, and the university's total payout of $53K to be rid of her, but declined to detail the reasons behind this move. When reading about the antics McDermed was involved in while overseeing her department, and the incompetent manner in which she operated, it appears to be a case of "too little, too late".

McDermed, one of the few female police chiefs in the state of Oregon, is the subject of a whistle blower case in which she "retaliated unlawfully", resulted in a federal judge confirming a jury award of $755,000 against her and the department she ran.

She left the job abruptly just days before a federal judge reconfirmed a $755,000 jury award against McDermed and her department in a whistleblower case. The jury's decision indicated they believed she retaliated unlawfully against an employee who complained about her leadership, then lied about it repeatedly on the stand.

In court, McDermed indicated she never looked into some misbehavior by her officers, confessed to ignorance about some department policies, said she knew little about the actions of her top deputies, and gave answers diametrically opposed to her earlier testimony. She raised questions about her own judgment, testifying she lacked familiarity with a longstanding federal law regarding police officer honesty and saying it did not occur to her that fraud was a form of dishonesty.

www.oregonlive.com...

Sources in her own department have said this situation spiraled out of control without intervention by her bosses, and the university was hesitant to intercede due to the possible negative effect from students, parents and press in the firing of it's first female police chief. What a bloody mess...
www.kgw.com...

a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

This should be a lesson to all that just because someone has a vagina doesn't make them good at their job. Qualifications are much more important as is integrity. I am looking at you, Hilary.

An example of our PC society. Can't fire her because she is a woman, and doing so would reflect poorly. Any time that even enters your mind, something is very wrong.

originally posted by: OccamsRazor04
An example of our PC society. Can't fire her because she is a woman, and doing so would reflect poorly. Any time that even enters your mind, something is very wrong.

The real shame in this situation is the officers that had to serve under her ineptitude, and were tainted by association with McDermed's dishonesty and repeated lying. If she wasn't hired on merit, or only so the University could crow about its diversity, they're deserve to pay a hefty toll.

a reply to: Boscowashisnamo

Wow, I was at UO just last week petitioning.
I did notice an absesnce of police. Perhaps they scaled back until this blows over.

Go ducks!