As criminal cases proceed against employees of the Sunriver Fire Department for allegedly accessing departmental emails illegally, two documents bring the department’s labor issues into slightly sharper focus: a February complaint filed with the state Bureau of Labor and Industries, and an outside consultant’s report citing an extreme morale problem with the department.

In a December 2014 report released to The Bulletin through a public records request this week, consultant and private investigator Joe Henner made 15 recommendations, largely organizational in nature, based on his review of the Sunriver Fire Department. He stressed that the report was based on “very limited exposure” to the department, but noted years of labor tensions.

“Reluctantly, I will share it is quite possibly the worst morale I have witnessed in a public safety organization in a career that spanned almost 35 years,” Henner wrote. “No single recommendation can correct the issues that face SFD.”

Sunriver Fire Chief Art Hatch did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week. It’s unclear whether changes have been made to the department in the year since the report was completed, though in minutes of a Sunriver Service District meeting , the report was described as a “high level” look at the department and commissioned for about $7,000.

Ten months ago, George Fox, a paramedic/firefighter for the service district, alleged unlawful employment practices in retaliation for reporting age and disability discrimination, records from the Bureau of Labor and Industries show. A Labor Bureau spokesman could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Fox filed a civil rights complaint with the agency in February, alleging discriminatory treatment. According to the complaint, after an internal investigation in late September 2014, and a due process hearing two months later, Fox was suspended without pay from the department for four 24-hour shifts.

Meanwhile, the email case continues against one current and one former employee of the department.

It’s unclear why the employees were allegedly accessing these emails, though when he announced the charges last month, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said the emails concerned “employee matters,” including labor negotiations.

Thomas Hill, a Bend attorney representing former paramedic/firefighter Jason Arnold, who also served as president of the Sunriver Career Firefighters’ Association, could not be reached for comment this week.

Arnold has been charged with numerous counts each for computer crime and obtaining, attempting to obtain or use contents of communications, electronic court records show. He is scheduled to plead in the case next month.

Jeffrey Ruthardt, a firefighter/paramedic who has been placed on paid administrative leave, is scheduled to plead on the same day — Jan. 12 — and faces two counts of conspiracy to commit a Class A misdemeanor, intercepting wire/oral communications and first-degree official misconduct, according to electronic court records. Ruthardt is represented by Eugene attorney Greg Veralrud, who could not be reached for comment this week.

Ronald Downs, an attorney for the Special Districts Association of Oregon, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

— Reporter: 541-383-0376,

cwithycombe@bendbulletin.com