Sheriff Probed for Actions During Oregon Standoff Now Sued for Information

Embattled Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer has one more thing to worry about - a lawsuit from the state's largest newspaper.

The Oregonian has filed suit in Grant County seeking relief under the Oregon Public Records Law.

The paper wants certain records declared "public" and wants those records released.

"For the past two months, Plaintiffs have made routine public records requests form Defendants," lawyers for the Oregonian write. "Plaintiffs have sought documents that are and should be readily available. Plaintiffs are not seeking an extraordinary volume of documents, nor are their requests intended for any other purposes than to obtain information essential to the public's right to know.

"At nearly every turn, however, Plaintiffs have met a stone wall of resistance."

Among the records being sought are:

All emails, received and sent, by the sheriff limited to those that relate to public business including matters related to the Harney County occupation, relating to the community meeting in John Day, and dealings with militia members;

Record of all calls made and received by him from a particular phone related to his work as sheriff;

The record of the total number of concealed handgun licenses issued by the sherif's office in 2014 and 2015; and

The record of every arrest report in which he was the primary arresting officer in 2015.

Sheriff Palmer is currently the subject of at least two investigations: one by the state's Department of Justice and one by the state's Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.

The sheriff has been the focus of controversy related to his actions during the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

During that time he expressed sympathy with those behind the takeover and the night one of them was killed and others arrested, they had been on their way to meet with Palmer.

In emails released by the state earlier this year, it was disclosed that several law enforcement officials had concerns about Palmer's actions.

And in March, the Oregonian reporter on behalf of whom the paper filed suit, disclosed that Sheriff Palmer seemed to disclose threats against his family.