By Maxine Bernstein
oregonlive.com
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. — Washington County has agreed to pay a former sheriff’s deputy $950,000 to settle a whistleblower lawsuit alleging she faced retaliation for reporting that a fellow deputy ignored a homeless man’s sexual assault claim.
The county Board of Commissioners approved the settlement for Melissa Canning on its consent agenda Tuesday night.
Jose Klein, Canning’s attorney, said the substantial payment should send a clear message that “retaliation against those who report misconduct is unacceptable.”
Canning filed a complaint in March 2021 saying her patrol partner, Deputy Brett Winders , had dismissed a homeless man as “crazy” and omitted any information about the man’s alleged sexual assault in his report of the call, according to her suit.
Canning said she was then ostracized, denied promotions and became the subject of a bogus criminal investigation dubbed “salsa gate,” according to the suit.
Trending
BWC: Woman strikes N.D. officer with car, throwing him into a fence before fatal OIS
April 23, 2025 11:46 AM
·
Video: Suspected drunk driver crashes into Fla. cruiser head-on, rolling it over
April 23, 2025 08:56 AM
Rookie Texas deputy killed after being struck by debris from passing vehicle
April 23, 2025 10:34 AM
·
Mont. officers, sergeants investigated after participating in ‘Midshift Bingo’
April 23, 2025 01:25 PM
·
She was accused of...
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has confirmed that a New South Wales man has been convicted and fined after pleading guilty to multiple offences relating to fraudulent claims under the Small-scal...