The Press-Courier

Ex-Deputy Hearing Continues

A civil service hearing continued today for a sheriff’s deputy fired for allegedly misrepresenting facts and mistreating suspects.

Deputy Scott Shaw, 23, is asking the county’s Civil Service Commission to reverse the firing that took effect last Nov. 15.   In the dismissal letter, Assistant Sheriff Larry Kalsbeek indicates the department’s own internal investigation led to the firing in the wake of citizen complaints and fellow officers’ distrust of Shaw’s credibility.

The deputy had been suspended for 20 days and ordered to get psychological counseling in 1982 after allegedly using excessive force against prisoners.

Despite counseling, “his credibility among his peers and supervisors” remains “greatly lacking,” Kalsbeek said in the dismissal letter, citing a January 1983 performance evaluation report. 

                Senior Deputy Keith Lazz, who started testifying Tuesday, was back on the stand this morning answering questions about his discussions with Shaw on alleged misstatements in a report on a June 1983 arrest of a drunken driving suspect whose breath analyzer test later indicated there was no alcohol in his blood.

                Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Department was seeking immunity from prosecution for any self-incrimination in exchange for testimony from one suspect allegedly mistreated by Shaw.