Recall Kent van der Kamp

07/24/2025

Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp banned for life from Oregon law enforcement over dishonesty; plans to appeal despite July 31 retirement.

07/24/2025

https://m.youtube.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

📅 Upcoming July 24:
Oregon’s Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Board is set to review whether to revoke Kent van der Kamp’s police certifications.

📝 This follows a unanimous recommendation made on May 22 by the Police Policy Committee to impose a lifetime decertification.

While the board may act on the recommendation, the process could include appeals. Stay tuned.

06/28/2025

Together, We Made a Difference

✅ The County has confirmed: Kent’s resignation is now legally binding.

🗓️ While brief and unconventional, the recall prompted a written resignation a month earlier than his prior verbal stance.

🙌 This is a successful recall effort.

Thank you to the hundreds who stood up, took action, and made this possible.

06/25/2025

📣 Strong Start
💰 No Cost
➡️ Moving Forward

Since launching, we’ve seen incredible support from across Deschutes County!

🗓️ On Monday, July 7th, we officially file the recall petition.

📌 Per the County Clerk, there is no public cost unless signatures are submitted.

❗ If that time comes, it will be abundantly clear that Kent has not vacated the Sheriff’s seat.

📈 Building momentum… stay tuned.

06/24/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/15qiMPk1s8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp says he will resign July 31 in an email to office staff.

06/24/2025

In an unprecedented and evolving situation, there’s been some confusion around the order of June 23rd events.

“OPB reached out to van der Kamp just after 8 a.m. Monday morning for a response to the recall campaign’s announcement. He said he was unaware of the effort. Minutes later, according to emails obtained by OPB, van der Kamp notified county administrators that he was resigning from office, effective July 31.” (OPB)

The sequence:

8:01 AM – The official recall press release (PR) was issued to the media

After PR – Per OPB, Kent told them he wasn’t aware of the recall

8:20 AM – Per The Source, Kent emailed the County Clerk a written resignation

8:36 AM – Per KBND, he emailed Sheriff’s Office staff with the same message

Why it matters:

Despite earlier verbal claims, this was the first time a written resignation was provided—and it came only after the recall went public.

📌 Per the County Clerk, that resignation is not legally binding until Thursday, June 26 at 5:00 PM.

The takeaway:

The recall was launched first. His written resignation followed.

📌 Until he’s officially out, this recall remains our community’s fail-safe. The recall ends once the County Clerk deems the seat vacant.

Sources:

OPB: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/23/deschutes-county-sheriff-kent-van-der-kamp-moves-up-retirement-recall-campaign/

The Source: https://www.bendsource.com/news/deschutes-county-sheriff-resigns-effective-july-31-23372586

KBND: https://kbnd.com/kbnd-news/local-news-feed/797601/sheriff-van-der-kamp-announces-resignation-amid-recall-effort

06/23/2025

"In a flurry of messages Monday morning after learning of recall effort against him, Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp officially declared he'd be retiring after less than a year on the job.

A group of county residents and government officials, including a Deschutes County Sheriff's Office sergeant, have been planning a recall effort against the sheriff since last week. They published their plans early Monday, setting off a swift change for the sheriff.

OPB reached out the van der Kamp just after 8a.m. Monday morning for a response to the recall's campaign announcement. The sheriff said he was unaware of the effort. Minutes later, according to emails obtained by OPB, van der Kamp notified county administrators that he was resigning from office, effective July 31st."

"Van der Kamp emailed his resignation from Florida, where he is attending the National Sheriffs Association Conference. According to Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison, the sheriff's resignation will be binding as of Thursday.

The volunteers leading the recall effort said they will continue with the campaign despite van der Kamp moving up his retirement date. Dennison said a recall petition could still be filed as long as van der Kamp is in office, regardless of a stated resignation date.

The group plans to file its recall paperwork on Jul 7, the first business day van der Kamp is eligible to be recalled under state law."

A group of county residents and government officials, including a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office sergeant, have been planning a recall effort against the sheriff since last week. They published their plans early Monday, setting off a swift change of course for the sheriff.

06/23/2025

📌 This is why the recall matters.

Each date shifts. Each delay adds strain.

The recall is the community’s backstop—a path forward, in case he doesn’t officially vacate the Sheriff's seat.

🔎 TIMELINE: Shifting Resignation Dates from Kent Van Der Kamp as Sheriff

📅 May 22 —
🔗 Redmond Spokesman
State officials move to revoke credentials. BPSST and County leaders urge him to resign immediately. Sheriff says he’s appealing and plans to retire “in the coming months.”
https://redmondspokesman.com/2025/05/22/deschutes-county-sheriff-urged-to-resign-as-state-board-moves-to-revoke-credentials/

📅 May 27 —
🔗 Central Oregon Daily News
Says he’ll retire within 90 days for a private sector job (around Aug 26)—but also says it could be “as late as fall.”
https://www.centraloregondaily.com/news/local/deschutes-county-sheriff-van-der-kamp-retirement-plans/article_30e5c9ec-adff-4cc9-bbc6-1e8181c11619.html

📅 June 3 —
🔗 OPB
Now says he’ll retire August 31.
https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/03/deschutes-sheriff-kent-van-der-kamp-retiring-august/

📅 June 4 —
🔗 KTVZ
Sheriff’s union calls for him to step down immediately.
https://ktvz.com/news/government-politics/2025/06/04/deschutes-sheriff-van-der-kamp-says-hell-resign-in-late-august-while-deputies-union-joins-the-call-for-him-to-leave-now/

📅 June 16 —
Despite all of the above, he attends a national law enforcement conference in Florida and says: “I’m still the Sheriff.”
https://ktvz.com/news/government-politics/2025/06/16/im-still-the-sheriff-deschutes-sheriff-kent-van-der-kamp-will-attend-national-sheriff-conference/

06/23/2025

A recall of Kent van der Kamp as Sheriff is in formation. We are community members who believe voters should have an opportunity to recall Kent van der Kamp as Sheriff on the grounds of dishonesty, abuse of authority, and misconduct.

Community members are organizing to recall Kent van der Kamp as Sheriff because Kent van der Kamp has ignored calls to resign immediately from the Deschutes County Sheriffs Employee Association, elected leaders, former campaign supporters, and community members. When asked, van der Kamp gives wide ranging dates for his "retirement," and various excuses for staying in office.

The volunteer committee launching the recall effort has a website: www.RecallKentvanderKamp.com. The recall website lists many of the calls for Kent van der Kamp’s, official reports and memos from the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, and DPSST, and media coverage of events that led community members to form the recall effort.

“Until Kent van der Kamp is officially out of the office of Deschutes County Sheriff, on his own accord or official process, the recall effort will move forward. Voters elected Kent van der Kamp, voters can remove him from the office of Sheriff through a recall election.”

The recall of Kent van der Kamp is in formation and will formally file on Monday, July 7 with the Deschutes County Clerk. Over the next two weeks we will be organizing volunteers and establishing signature gathering processes. Our goal is to collect 20,000 in less than 90 days, exceeding the minimum number required to qualify for the ballot.

“A recall election is the failsafe to remove Kent van der Kamp as Sheriff, if he isn’t removed by other means before election day.”

If you would you like volunteer, sign-up to sign the petition on the first day possible, and contact the recall committee members, visit www.RecallKentvanderKamp.com, or email [email protected].

You can also sign-up for emailed announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

06/23/2025

“Until Kent van der Kamp is officially out of the office of Deschutes County Sheriff, on his own accord or official process, the recall effort will move forward. Voters elected Kent van der Kamp, voters can remove him from the office of Sheriff through a recall election.”
Recall Kent van der Kamp Committee