In a ceremony attended by a number of county politicians, Craig Roberts, the former sheriff of Clackamas County, was sworn in as the county’s chair on Monday.
Melissa Fireside, a Democrat from Lake Oswego who was also elected in the fall, was conspicuously absent.
Fireside, who defeated conservative Republican and one-term incumbent Mark Shull, has not made many public statements since The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed in November that Lake Oswego police had searched her home as part of a felony theft investigation.
Fireside, 43, is not facing any criminal charges. The Oregon Department of Justice is reviewing the police investigation.
Last Friday, Fireside took a discreet oath of office in County Clerk Catherine McMullen’s office.
Ben West, Paul Savas, and Martha Schrader, the other members of the commission, were present during Roberts’ swearing-in ceremony at Willamette View, a retirement, assisted living, and memory care facility located on Southeast River Road. During the introduction, an emcee identified each of them; Fireside was left out.
Fireside was unable to attend because to a prior engagement, according to a county official. When Fireside’s work calendar on Monday was requested by The Oregonian/OregonLive, it just displayed Roberts swearing-in.
Roberts assured the crowd that he would give mental health and drug addiction treatment top priority, adding that the people of the county are depending on us to act quickly.
Roberts’ former coworker at the sheriff’s office, Damon Coates, was present during the event. While on duty in 2005, Coates was shot in the face by a teenager. Coates, a well-liked and respected sergeant, was largely paralyzed by the injuries.
Criminal justice is the area of expertise for enterprise reporter Noelle Crombie. You can reach her at [email protected] or 503-276-7184.
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