S moke S ignals
JULY 15, 2016
19
Former Tribal police officer accused of evidence tampering
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Former Grand Ronde Tribal Po-
lice Department K-9 Officer Patrick
McConnell has been accused of
tampering with public records and
evidence, misleading a grand jury
and official misconduct.
According to news reports, McCo-
nnell is accused of tampering with
evidence on Jan. 23 while he was
still employed by the Grand Ronde
Police Department when he “un-
lawfully and knowingly” concealed
a syringe that was considered phys-
ical evidence in a drug case.
Prosecutors allege that in the
days immediately after tampering
with evidence, McConnell made a
“false entry in a public record, re-
garding evidence found.” The report
was entered into the Tribal Police
database.
The drug case he was work-
ing on was submitted to the Polk
County District Attorney’s Office
and McConnell was the only law
enforcement officer to testify be-
fore a grand jury that eventually
charged Lydell Lance Suppah with
a count of unlawful possession of
methamphetamine and giving false
information to a peace officer.
In March, Marion County Dep-
uty District Attorney Jennifer K.
Gardiner requested a copy of the
grand jury’s notes in the Suppah
case because she was investigating
whether “false statements were
made under oath.”
The court documents filed against
McConnell allege that he “unlaw-
fully and knowingly” made a false
sworn statement regarding the
evidence against Suppah and that
he knew the statement was false.
Records show that McConnell
issued Suppah a traffic citation
for failure to obey a traffic control
device and driving while suspended
in January.
All four charges against McCon-
nell are misdemeanors, according
to Polk County Circuit Court.
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Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia
Martin issued a statement that said:
“On Feb. 20, 2016, the Grand Ronde
Tribal Police Department received a
report alleging misconduct by Tribal
Police Officer Patrick McConnell.
Officer McConnell was immediate-
ly placed on administrative leave
pending investigation of the allega-
tions. An independent investigation
of the allegations was conducted by
the Oregon State Police with the
Tribal Police Department’s consent
and full cooperation. Officer McCo-
nnell resigned his employment with
the Tribe on March 2, 2016. The
Grand Ronde Tribal Police Depart-
ment is committed to ensuring the
public safety of the community and
the fair and equitable enforcement
of the law.”
McConnell was one of the first
police officers hired by the Grand
Ronde Tribal Police Department in
early 2013. He worked with Tribal
K-9 Officer Nixwa in drug detection
for the Tribal police and surround-
ing law enforcement agencies. He
came to Grand Ronde after three
years with the Polk County Sher-
iff’s Office.
A spokesperson for the Depart-
ment of Public Safety Standards
and Training said the agency has
a professional standards case open
regarding McConnell’s former em-
ployment in Grand Ronde and the
pending criminal matter.
McConnell appeared in Polk
County Circuit Court on Thursday,
July 7, and pleaded not guilty. His
trial is set for Tuesday, Aug. 30.
He is being represented by Salem
defense attorney Robert Gunn.
Gardiner is prosecuting the case.
Includes information from
KOIN 6 News.
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