"She accepted the discipline. The financial impact was a little disheartening to her, but she accepted it." Like she had a choice.
This is an update to a previous thread which had the original story.
Sergeant demoted for rebuff of suspect
The Washington County sheriff disciplines Sgt. Lisa Agner for not detaining Jessica C. Rydman after she turned herself in
Friday, September 22, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Holly Danks of The Oregonian staff
HILLSBORO -- The sergeant who ordered that a nude dancer wanted as a suspect in a highly publicized murder be turned away from the Washington County Jail has been demoted and suspended without pay.
Sgt. Lisa Agner told a deputy at the desk in the jail lobby on Sept. 2 to have Jessica C. Rydman go to Multnomah County because a warrant for her arrest had been issued in Portland. Rydman, wanted in connection with the brutal murder of Portland bank executive Wayne E. Olson, tried to surrender herself and her gun at the jail in Hillsboro.
Later that day, Rydman, still accompanied by her brother and sister-in-law, who live in Cornelius, traveled to Portland, where she was immediately taken into custody. She has since pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, a potential death-penalty charge, in connection with Olson's death.
Olson was found bound, gagged and shot in the head Aug. 23 in his West Hills home. Because of the violent and sensational nature of the crime in an exclusive part of town, Rydman's photo was widely distributed by news media.
But when Rydman tried to turn herself in, Deputy Kevin Berry didn't recognize her face or name and called Agner, his supervisor, to see what to do. At no point did Agner or Berry run Rydman's name through the law enforcement computer to see whether she was wanted.
"She did not perform at the level of a mid-range sergeant. She made the wrong conclusion," Washington County Sheriff Jim Spinden said.
Berry's discipline is pending. He has been on vacation, and jail officials have not been able to interview him.
In Thursday's letter of discipline, Spinden told Agner that her "conduct on duty damaged the positive public image, integrity and reputation" of the sheriff's office and that she "failed to enforce local laws." In failing to serve an arrest warrant, Agner "committed an unlawful act which had the potential for endangering another person or property," Spinden said.
However, Spinden noted that the Rydman incident was Agner's only serious policy violation in 10 years. "I think this level of discipline is severe and appropriately addresses the action of the sergeant," he said, noting that he thought she'd learn from her mistake.
Agner will lose about $8,000 a year in her demotion from mid-level sergeant to an entry-level sergeant. She was making a base salary of $60,276 a year before Thursday's demotion. The entry-level position pays a base salary of $52,068 a year.
Agner also was suspended for three days without pay, effective Sept. 27. She makes $250 a day.
By comparison, Spinden fired Deputy Donald C. Clayton Jr. in March for letting a convicted serial rapist escape from him outside the courthouse. Spinden said Clayton violated several policies when he didn't use the proper restraints on Richard Dennis Cantu, who had just pleaded guilty to various sex crimes, and didn't carry a radio. Clayton, who has appealed his termination, had been disciplined before for the same kind of violations, Spinden said.
Spinden said Agner's actions didn't rise to the level of Clayton's for several reasons. Cantu had just pleaded guilty to raping and assaulting a number of women, Spinden said. Also, in running from Clayton, Cantu was trying to avoid incarceration, Spinden said.
On the other hand, Rydman was only accused in a warrant and has not been convicted, Spinden said. She also was trying to cooperate and in the end did turn herself in, he said.
Agner told Spinden that the Washington County Jail was over its limit of women prisoners the day Rydman tried to surrender. Agner had just gotten off the phone trying to get officials at the Multnomah County Jail to take a woman jailed on a Portland crime off Washington County's hands.
But Agner didn't offer any excuses, took full responsibility for the slip-up and apologized for her actions, Spinden said. He said she has continued to work her regular shifts, hasn't called in sick and hasn't asked for stress-related leave.
Agner declined comment Thursday.
"She feels really embarrassed and doesn't want to be humiliated any more," Spinden said. "She accepted the discipline. The financial impact was a little disheartening to her, but she accepted it."
Copyright 2000 Oregon Live.
This is an update to a previous thread which had the original story.
Sergeant demoted for rebuff of suspect
The Washington County sheriff disciplines Sgt. Lisa Agner for not detaining Jessica C. Rydman after she turned herself in
Friday, September 22, 2000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Holly Danks of The Oregonian staff
HILLSBORO -- The sergeant who ordered that a nude dancer wanted as a suspect in a highly publicized murder be turned away from the Washington County Jail has been demoted and suspended without pay.
Sgt. Lisa Agner told a deputy at the desk in the jail lobby on Sept. 2 to have Jessica C. Rydman go to Multnomah County because a warrant for her arrest had been issued in Portland. Rydman, wanted in connection with the brutal murder of Portland bank executive Wayne E. Olson, tried to surrender herself and her gun at the jail in Hillsboro.
Later that day, Rydman, still accompanied by her brother and sister-in-law, who live in Cornelius, traveled to Portland, where she was immediately taken into custody. She has since pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, a potential death-penalty charge, in connection with Olson's death.
Olson was found bound, gagged and shot in the head Aug. 23 in his West Hills home. Because of the violent and sensational nature of the crime in an exclusive part of town, Rydman's photo was widely distributed by news media.
But when Rydman tried to turn herself in, Deputy Kevin Berry didn't recognize her face or name and called Agner, his supervisor, to see what to do. At no point did Agner or Berry run Rydman's name through the law enforcement computer to see whether she was wanted.
"She did not perform at the level of a mid-range sergeant. She made the wrong conclusion," Washington County Sheriff Jim Spinden said.
Berry's discipline is pending. He has been on vacation, and jail officials have not been able to interview him.
In Thursday's letter of discipline, Spinden told Agner that her "conduct on duty damaged the positive public image, integrity and reputation" of the sheriff's office and that she "failed to enforce local laws." In failing to serve an arrest warrant, Agner "committed an unlawful act which had the potential for endangering another person or property," Spinden said.
However, Spinden noted that the Rydman incident was Agner's only serious policy violation in 10 years. "I think this level of discipline is severe and appropriately addresses the action of the sergeant," he said, noting that he thought she'd learn from her mistake.
Agner will lose about $8,000 a year in her demotion from mid-level sergeant to an entry-level sergeant. She was making a base salary of $60,276 a year before Thursday's demotion. The entry-level position pays a base salary of $52,068 a year.
Agner also was suspended for three days without pay, effective Sept. 27. She makes $250 a day.
By comparison, Spinden fired Deputy Donald C. Clayton Jr. in March for letting a convicted serial rapist escape from him outside the courthouse. Spinden said Clayton violated several policies when he didn't use the proper restraints on Richard Dennis Cantu, who had just pleaded guilty to various sex crimes, and didn't carry a radio. Clayton, who has appealed his termination, had been disciplined before for the same kind of violations, Spinden said.
Spinden said Agner's actions didn't rise to the level of Clayton's for several reasons. Cantu had just pleaded guilty to raping and assaulting a number of women, Spinden said. Also, in running from Clayton, Cantu was trying to avoid incarceration, Spinden said.
On the other hand, Rydman was only accused in a warrant and has not been convicted, Spinden said. She also was trying to cooperate and in the end did turn herself in, he said.
Agner told Spinden that the Washington County Jail was over its limit of women prisoners the day Rydman tried to surrender. Agner had just gotten off the phone trying to get officials at the Multnomah County Jail to take a woman jailed on a Portland crime off Washington County's hands.
But Agner didn't offer any excuses, took full responsibility for the slip-up and apologized for her actions, Spinden said. He said she has continued to work her regular shifts, hasn't called in sick and hasn't asked for stress-related leave.
Agner declined comment Thursday.
"She feels really embarrassed and doesn't want to be humiliated any more," Spinden said. "She accepted the discipline. The financial impact was a little disheartening to her, but she accepted it."
Copyright 2000 Oregon Live.