Deadline Looms for Sheriff Giusto
State Board Likely to Revoke Certification in February

New allegations surfaced in early November that Giusto inappropriately used a County vehicle to drive Doss to Seattle on at least two occasions, drawing the interest of the State's Ethics Commission and Justice Department (Oregonian, November 20).

The DPSST's Police Policy Committee will decide in mid-February whether to revoke Giusto's badge. He has made claims that while he needed certification to run for Sheriff, the state law does not require him to be certified now that he has been elected. Experts are split on the question, but the Tribune and the Oregonian have already staked their ground and, on October 16 and 25 respectively, called for Giusto to resign. The Willamette Week noted that Giusto could lose his certification to be part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force if he loses his badge (October 17).

These are all important concerns, but ignore some basic facts about Giusto, such as his virtual dismantling of the Sheriff's Internal Affairs Unit, many of the jail deputies' violent behavior (see sidebar), and the fact that he waited until after his re-election to release information about the inmate who sneaked into another cell to have sex (PPR #39). In other words, yeah, maybe he's a liar, but he's also not a competent Sheriff.

In early December County Chair Ted Wheeler began floating proposals for the County to take over operation of the jails to improve accountability.