Fourteen months after beating him in an election, Deschutes County’s sheriff on Wednesday fired his one-time opponent.

Sheriff Shane Nelson notified media Wednesday afternoon that he had terminated Eric Kozowski as a sheriff’s deputy for violating office policies. Kozowski had been on paid administrative leave since September. Nelson’s office offered few details regarding that decision.

“We’ve had a number of people in the past who have degraded the public’s trust. I don’t want those people working here,” Nelson said Wednesday through a spokesman. “I am committed to the highest level of standards and professionalism in this office.”

Kozowski’s attorney said his client was told he was fired for violating the office’s uniform policy when he was a candidate for office.

Kozowski ran for sheriff against incumbent Nelson in 2016, alleging widespread problems with workplace culture and Nelson’s management. He accused Nelson of harassing him and his supporters during the race.

Nelson won by a nearly 10 percent margin.

The Oregon Department of Justice determined it was unable to corroborate Kozowski’s allegations of harassment.

On Wednesday, Kozowski’s attorney, Michael McGean, told the Bulletin his client became the subject of numerous disciplinary investigations as a result of opposing Nelson on the ballot. He said prior to that, Kozowski had been the subject of no disciplinary actions in his career.

Previous reports have cited several allegations against Kozowski, including failure to take a report, not arresting a wanted suspect and making statements in the press when he was a candidate for office.

McGean called the sheriff’s justifications for Kozowski’s termination “tortured” and “absurd.”

“The sheriff’s office has been quite clear in its intention to terminate Mr. Kozowski,” McGean said.

McGean said he is days from filing a suit in federal court alleging retaliation and a discriminatory interpretation of sheriff’s office policies.

Additionally, last week, Nelson’s office offered information to Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel so Hummel could determine if Kozowski should be added to the local circuit court’s “Brady list” of officers known to have been dishonest in the past.

“Dear, Mr. Hummel,” wrote sheriff’s office attorney Darryl Nakahira in a letter dated Jan. 23. “Pursuant to your standing request for possible Brady information, I am forwarding you this internal investigation of Deputy Eric Kozowski by contract investigator Tim Moore.”

Hummel declined to add Kozowski to the list, writing in response that he did not find Kozowski’s statements to investigators to have been “intentionally or maliciously deceptive.”

Kozowski is entitled to request a name-clearing hearing to present an explanation for his alleged violations of sheriff’s office policy and air grievances. McGean, who was first retained when Kozowski was a candidate for office, said his client hasn’t decided if he’ll request one.

Kozowski is the seventh person fired by Nelson in the past 16 months.

— Reporter: 541-383-0325, gandrews@bendbulletin.com