PORTLAND, Ore. — Three Multnomah County corrections deputies have been accused of misconduct, including assault, and providing contraband to inmates.
However, no charges have been placed on the deputies — identified as Mirzet Sacirovic, Jorge Troudt and Gustavo Valdovinos — who remain on paid administrative leave.
“The alleged conduct outlined in the Oregon State Police investigative records is egregious and unacceptable,” said Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell. “I will not tolerate conduct of this nature within our organization.”
For two years, the three deputies are suspected of having engaged in assaults and “door popping” to allow inmates to assault each other, provided contraband, and allowed access to computers and personal cellphones.
An investigation opened in April 2022 into the deputies, after two individuals involved in a racketeering and corrupt organization case shared details of their behavior that includes favoring inmates with connections to the Hoover Criminal Gang.
The investigation found that there was no camera surveillance located in the area where the potential assaults took place and there were no records of cell doors opening or closing in the area. However, five inmates were found to have been assaulted near there.
In September 2022, the three deputies were placed on paid administrative leave. Eight months later, in May 2023, charges for official misconduct were forwarded to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. However, a deputy district attorney declined to criminally charge the three deputies.
The deputy DA said that the district attorney’s office would be “unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt all elements of the alleged crimes,” due the credibility of the individuals accounts in the racketeering case, lack of evidence and corroborating statements, among other things, according to the news release.
In a letter from the deputy DA to DA Mike Schmidt, the prosecutor said that some of the statements from the assault victims were inconsistent with whether any guards were involved. However, the investigation revealed that inmates who claimed to be assaulted by corrections deputies or other inmates aided by deputies were often sent to the "hole" or placed on suicide watch around the same time.
Reports written by deputies during those instances were found to contradict the victim's statements and often referred to it as "suicidal" attempts by the inmates through either hitting themselves, violating a rule or being the aggressor in the altercation, the letter said.
Following the investigation and the non-prosecution of the deputies, the case has returned to the Multnomah County’s Sheriff's Office. It was not stated if the deputies will be allowed to return to work.
O’Donnell said that she has launched a professional standards investigation into the three deputies, using an independent contractor to establish that there is no potential conflict of interest in the investigation.
In recent years, the jail has added “significant” step to ensure oversight, O’Donnell said. It includes installing new security cameras, reforming the complaint process for adults in custody, implementing technology to record when security doors open, expanding training programs for correctional deputies and appointing an inspector to oversee the office’s internal affairs unit.