Keizertimes., March 19, 2021, Page 7, Image 7

MARCH 19, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A7
Former police chief hired to investigate
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
A former Woodburn Police
Department (WPD) police chief
has been hired to investigate an
accidental discharge of a firearm
by Keizer City Manager Chris
Eppley.
Kathy Peck, the city’s legal
counsel in human resource mat-
ters, said she expects the inves-
tigation to be complete by the
end of March.
—
On March 10, Mayor Cathy
Clark signed a contract with Jim
Ferraris, a retired Woodburn
police chief, to conduct the
investigation. The scope of the
investigation has not been disclosed.
Eppley discharged a firearm inside his
office on March 4. No one was hurt and
the incident was not reported to police.
Keizertimes reached out to Eppley and
offered him the opportunity to tell his side
of what happened, but he and the reporter
agreed to wait until more of the process
has played out.
“I’m not going to try to make this less
of an issue than it is. This is clearly an
earth shattering event in my life, both pro-
fessionally and personally and my focus
now is to learn from it and become a bet-
ter person, father, husband, professional,
and Catholic,” Eppley said.
At a Keizer City Council meeting
Monday, March 15, Clark offered up a few
EPPLEY,
Continued from page A2
Eppley and I would trust him with my life
and my safety.”
Sullivan, the former Salem city coun-
cilor, lauded Eppley for a laundry list of
“good work” for the city and ended his
time making light of the incident.
“It will be an awesome story at his
retirement party,” Sullivan said.
Only three detractors spoke during
public testimony. Councilor Ross Day
grew contentious during the testimony of
Keizer resident RJ Navarro.
Navarro recalled recent incidents that
made news when firearms were acciden-
tally discharged and then police were
notified.
“In both instances they notified police
because they were genuinely sorry, Yet
there has been no police report regarding
this incident,” Navarro said.
Day called out Navarro for attempting
to impugn the character of city employ-
ees. Navarro followed his statement with
the assertion he, as a person of color,
would have been treated differently.
“There isn’t a jury of peers here, there
is a jury of friends,” said Navarro.
Day objected to the statement and
accused Navarro of implying the council
was racist.
Day also rebuked resident Rich
Rodriguez twice during earlier testimony,
but Rodriguez testimony could be consid-
ered inflammatory.
“When you have a concealed weapons
I’m not going to try
to make this less
of an issue than it
is. This is clearly
an earth shattering
event in my life.
H IS E
E
whether Wenning reported the incident
to colleagues or supervisors within the
department.
DePina said the committee has not for-
mally met since the incident.
"It is anticipated the safety committee
will discuss safety-related issues regard-
ing the incident following the completion
of the investigation, when there will be
a more complete record of what actually
occurred," she said.
The council met in executive session
on Monday, March 8, and discussed the
next steps. A Keizertimes reporter was
present during the meeting, but members
of the media are legally prohibited from
reporting on what is discussed in execu-
tive sessions.
According to public records, Ferraris
was hired by the Beaverton Police
Department in 1978, spent 19 years with
the Portland Police Bureau before becom-
ing a deputy chief with the Salem Police
Department, and hired by the WPD
as chief in 2014. He retired from the
Woodburn department two weeks ago.
City Manager, KEIZER
more details regarding the timeline after
the firearm was discharged.
After the incident, the city safety com-
mittee, human resources department, the
mayor and outside legal counsel were
notified of the incident.
The members of the city's safety
committee include a chair, two city hall
representative, two public works repre-
sentatives, a management representa-
tive (human resources director Machell
DePina) and two employees of the Keizer
Police Department, including Lt. Trevor
Wenning.
Keizertimes asked if a police report
had been made regarding the incident.
Lt. Bob Trump said neither he, nor the
chief or another lieutenant had knowl-
edge of what happened. It is not known
permit and discharge it accidentally it is
stupid upon stupid,” Rodriguez said.
Eppley told the Statesman Journal
earlier this week that he possesses a con-
cealed carry license.
In written comments submitted,
calls for Eppley’s dismissal were more
prevalent.
“I strongly support removing Mr.
Eppley from his position for putting the
lives of city workers and city residents
in danger,” wrote Anna McKenzie. “He
is paid handsomely by the taxpayers and
puts all that enter that facility at risk.”
Eppley’s salary as Keizer city manager
is more than $160,00, the figure does not
include health benefits, retirement contri-
butions and other benefits such as a reim-
bursement for using a personal vehicle
for work-related duties.
“It does not say good things if lead-
ers can dodge the consequences purely
by virtue of being at the top of the totem
pole. The law applies to us all. The rules of
conduct apply to all city employees, even
those making six figures and writing pol-
icy," wrote Will and Sarah Comerford.
Resident LaTonya Gibbs called
Eppley’s conduct “disgraceful" in a letter
to the council.
“Chris Eppley not only should be job-
less at this point, he should be charged
and arraigned. Keizer needs to show now
how Keizer Strong it is and make certain
that any and all will have to accept the
repercussions of bad decisions,” Gibbs
wrote.
City councilors are fond of using the
term “Keizer Strong” as a rallying cry when
situations are difficult or uncomfortable.
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