An anonymous letter accusing several Oregon police officers of intimidating women into sexual relationships and other misconduct has prompted resignations, suspensions, a criminal investigation, and possible charges.

In April 2015, an anonymous letter was sent to the Washington County Sheriff s Office, (WCSO) in Hillsboro, Oregon, alleging widespread sexual harassment at the agency. After receiving the letter, WCSO initially placed three deputies on paid administrative leave. One has not yet been named. A second deputy, Sergeant Dan Cardinal, resigned during the investigation in May 2010. The third, is sixteen year veteran Corporal Jon Christensen. On July 29, 2015, Christensen's suspension was elevated to unpaid administrative leave as the investigation continued. WCSO officials refused to say why Christensen's pay was suspended, but an attorney revealed in June court filings that Christensen would likely face criminal charges.

Christensen is married to a Hillsboro detective, but the anonymous letter alleges that he has intimidated other women into sexual relationships. A restraining order issued against Christensen appears to corroborate the allegations in the anonymous letter.

On April 29, 2015, a female WCSO deputy obtained a restraining order against Christensen, accusing him of choking her while he was on duty and demanding that she continue their sexual relationship. WCSO officials could not recall when one employee had previously obtained a restraining order against another, according to WCSO spokesman Sergeant Bob Ray.

The unnamed female deputy admitted in her restraining order petition that she and Christensen had been involved in a sexual relationship, but she wanted to end it.

While on duty on March 10, 2015, Christensen came to her home wearing his uniform and gun, the deputy alleged. He shoved her against a wall, pulled her hair and choked her while demanding that she agree to continue their sexual relationship, the petition alleges. "I was very close to losing consciousness so I promised and he left," she wrote.

Christensen was served with the restraining order at home on May 4, 2015. He hired attorney Steven Myers to challenge it.

Between March 10, 2015 and May 1, 2015, Christensen and the deputy exchanged more than 700 text messages, Myers wrote in court filings. No threats of abuse were ever made. Myers also claimed that Christensen and the woman had consensual sex two times during that period and planned to do so again. As such, Christensen argued that the deputy had failed to establish that she was in "imminent danger of further abuse."

The deputy hired attorney John Woodworth to represent her. In court filings he informed the court that the deputy did not report the March 10, 2015 incident because she was afraid that it would affect Christensen's job and that her co-workers would retaliate against her once they learned of the relationship. "That concern has now been validated," wrote Woodworth. Although he did not explain how.

The deputy alleged that when she refused to talk to Christensen, he pulled her over.

Investigators also found that Christensen had run the license plates of multiple vehicles parked at her house, court records reveal.

Woodworth advised the court that Christensen "was under investigation for victimizing multiple women while on duty." Investigators disclosed that they intended to send prosecutors a probable cause affidavit to support criminal charges against Christensen, according to Woodworth.

On June 22, 2015, the court extended the restraining order, finding that Christensen poses a "credible threat" to the deputy, according to court records. Myers vowed to appeal the order.

"It's fundamentally unfair," said Myers, noting that he and Christensen do not know the specific allegations against Christensen. He said Christensen was placed on leave based on accusations in an anonymous letter that they have not been allowed to see. WCSO officials declined to comment.

Source: The Oregonian/OregonLive 

Subscribe today

Already a subscriber? Login