MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR - The following statement is being released by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office on behalf of Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell:
"As my office continues to work towards solutions to prevent in custody deaths, I can share that today, I asked the Oregon State Police (OSP) to conduct an independent review of all adult in custody death investigations that occurred this year. Their review will focus on ensuring that our investigative processes are thorough and complete. It is not uncommon for OSP to receive requests for and to provide this type of support to Oregon sheriff's offices.
Additionally, on Monday, August 7, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) accepted our request to provide an independent assessment of our facilities, operations, policies and services.
I believe these are important steps to ensure transparency in the work we do and build and maintain the community’s trust in us. Should OSP and NIC identify areas of improvement at the conclusion of their respective assessments, we welcome their recommendations, and we will share them with the public when it is appropriate to do so.”
To read Sheriff Morrisey O'Donnell's previous letters to the community about recent adult in custody deaths, please visit our website.