CLEARWATER COUNTY, Idaho — This text initially appeared within the Idaho Press.

A county in North Idaho has an open investigation into the present Boise police chief, which comes after an Idaho State Police investigation from an alleged incident in October of final 12 months.

A public information request despatched by the Idaho Press on Thursday confirmed that the Clearwater County Prosecutor’s Workplace is investigating BPD Chief Ryan Lee in tandem with the Idaho State Police.

“My workplace has information pertaining to just one investigation concerning Chief Ryan Lee, which stays energetic and ongoing at the moment,” the information request response mentioned.

The investigation report was despatched to Clearwater County after the ISP investigation was reviewed by the Ada County Prosecutor’s Workplace, which had a battle of curiosity with the investigation into Lee, mentioned Ada County Prosecutor spokeswoman, Emily Lowe.

“We’re working with ISP investigators out of Area six,” Clayne Tyler, the Clearwater County prosecutor, mentioned in an e mail to the Idaho Press. 

Boise police officer recordsdata declare in opposition to metropolis concerning alleged incident with chief Ryan Lee

“Ada County, town of Boise, and Area three ISP will not be concerned as investigators,” Tyler mentioned.

It’s unclear why the investigation was despatched to Clearwater County versus one other county nearer to the world. Clearwater County is sort of 310 miles away from Boise.

Lee was employed by Boise Mayor Lauren McLean in July of 2020 after spending practically 20 years in the Portland Police Bureau in Oregon. He presently below investigation for allegedly injuring an officer throughout a staff briefing.

BPD Sgt. Kirk Rush and his legal professional filed a tort declare April 5, outlining how Lee allegedly grabbed Rush by the neck with out warning to point out officers an unconventional neck restraint, which the declare mentioned broke elements of his neck, the place he required sternum and neck surgical procedure to restore.

The Idaho Press filed a public information request to town of Portland, Oregon, on Thursday for information associated to any extreme pressure challenge by Lee and any allegations and complaints from different officers about extreme pressure from Lee when he was an officer for the PPB.

Town of Portland denied the request below the “personnel self-discipline” exemption within the Oregon state code, which says the information are exempt from disclosure as a consequence of, “a personnel self-discipline motion, or supplies or paperwork supporting that motion.”

The response additionally denied the request as a consequence of {a photograph} of a public security worker. The Oregon code the response cited says they might not disclose {a photograph} of a public security worker with out written consent.

The code additionally prevents disclosure of details about a personnel investigation of a public security worker of the general public physique if the investigation doesn’t lead to self-discipline of the worker.

Town of Boise, as of April 22, has not put Lee on any sort of administrative go away; town’s human sources handbook authorizes any metropolis worker below investigation to be positioned on administrative go away with pay.

This text initially appeared within the Idaho Press, learn extra on IdahoPress.com.

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