In February, elected leaders of a small town in Marion County took the extraordinary step of firing its top cop amid a series of troubling allegations.
Gervais Police Chief Mark Chase’s removal has since touched off a feud between the chief’s defenders and officials in the quiet community about 15 miles NE of Salem.
Chase, it turns out, is no stranger to controversy on the job. Leaders in Junction City, about an hour south of Gervais, fired Chase from his role as police chief there in 2016.
On the latest Beat Check, Oregonian/OregonLive reporters Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and Catalina Gaitán talk about small town politics in the age of toxic divides.
Read More:
- Small Oregon town fires police chief, fueling ongoing feud and attempt to recall city officials
- How a $15.98 theft threw an Oregon coast town into turmoil
- Mayor’s sister, others on far-right harass residents who raise concerns in Gladstone
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-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh covers Portland city government and politics, with a focus on accountability and watchdog reporting.
Reach him at 503-294-7632
Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com
Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh