Bulletin file photoFormer Prineville Police Chief Eric Bush

Prineville City Manager Steve Forrester said Friday he’s growing frustrated with the pace of the investigation of Police Chief Eric Bush, but expects it to come to a conclusion sometime soon.

Bush, a member of the Prineville force since 1990 and chief since 2003, was put on paid leave in September. The city has released few details of the allegations against Bush, but on Friday Forrester said it concerns “a personnel matter” and is unrelated to the exercise of Bush’s authority as a law enforcement officer.

The Local Government Personnel Institute, an arm of the League of Oregon Cities, is conducting the investigation.

Forrester said he’s given up trying to project an end date for the investigation. Twice the investigators have given him a firm date, he said, then requested more time as that date approaches.

“I keep asking the same question of the people who are doing the investigation, ‘What the hell?’ But they say, ‘That’s the process,’” Forrester said.

Bush is also a brigadier general in the Oregon Army National Guard. He served 14 months in Iraq in 2009 and 2010, earning the Bronze Star and the combat infantry badge.

Last summer, Bush was given a new assignment with the guard to serve as deputy assistant chief of staff in South Korea, training South Korean and American forces, overseeing operations and performing administrative duties.

At the time, Bush said he intended to split his time between Prineville and South Korea.

With Bush out, Capt. Michael Boyd has been serving as the department’s interim chief.

Forrester said investigators have told him they’ve addressed all but “one or two” of their questions about Bush. And the city manager said he’s looking forward to the conclusion of the investigation.

“Believe me, I want this to be done and settled regardless of what happens,” he said.

— Reporter: 541-383-0387, shammers@bendbulletin.com