11/17/20, 1:33 PM
ABUSE OF POWER?
On October 23, 2020, we posted a report titled, FALSE ALLEGATIONS as part of a series of reports regarding complaints filed by former Ranch president Dave Palmer and the Ranch Association against John Stevens’ private investigators license with the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST).
The first confirmed complaint was filed by Palmer on February 20, 2020 followed by a second complaint dated March 12 and an addendum to the second complaint submitted on April 20th by a secret complainant(s).
On June 4, 2020, FORMER DPSST Investigator Karen Evans notified John Stevens for the first time about the complaints that had been filed months earlier and interestingly, referenced Jefferson County Circuit Court Case No. 18 CV 16980-Pending 2016 Ballot Measure Lawsuit?
According to Ms. Evans, all of the complaints were directly related to the Association. She stated, “ AS YOU MAY KNOW, THIS INVESTIGATION RELATED TO YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH CROOKED RIVER ASSOCIATION.”
Ms. Evans stated she was conducting a DPSST investigation based on complaints she admitted were filed on 2/20/20 and 3/12/20, with an addendum received on 4/20/20. She indicated one of the complaints was made by David Palmer without further identifying information as to the person(s) or complaint which related.
Further, while refusing to provide Stevens with copies of the complaints or complainant names, thus violating his due process rights, Ms. Evans demanded answers to very specific questions related to the 2016 Ballot Measure lawsuit. AT WHO’S BIDDING?
REVOCATION THREAT
While Evans refused to provide any information remotely related to the nature of the complaints, she still insisted Stevens answer her questions regarding the 2016 lawsuit or face REVOCATION of his license. In essence, she was using the power of her position to compel answers about completely undisclosed allegations under threat of REVOCATION.
As reported in our “FALSE ALLEGATIONS” report, DPSST notified Stevens’s attorney last month that both complaints were dismissed as “FALSE/UNFOUNDED”, but to date still have refused to provide records reflecting the full identity of the complainant(s) and copies of the complaints and addendum against Stevens.
As stated above, Ms. Evans informed Stevens, at least one of the complaints was from David Palmer. DPSST knew these FALSE complaints against Stevens related to Crooked River Ranch (CRR) and former Ranch President David Palmer, as well as, Stevens news coverage as a journalist.
In a letter (ATTACHED) dated, November 12, 2020, by Stevens attorney and addressed to DPSST, he reminded them that Palmer is not only a former director/president of CRR, but also holds a DPSST Fire Certificate. Stevens attorney asked, “hypothetically: If a Fire Professional used his position and authority, to silence or punish a journalist over news coverage of an entity with whom the Fire Professional was associated, would such behavior be egregious enough to matter to you (DPSST)?”
