Arrest of Sheriff Terry Rowan for driving impaired also means he is not participating on Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training board and police committee

UMATILLA COUNTY — The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office reported Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan had a blood-alcohol level more than two times the legal limit the night of his arrest for driving under the influence of intoxicants.

Gilliam County District Attorney Ryan Rodighiero said Rowan’s office does not grant him any special treatment.

“I’m going to treat him just like any other defendant,” Rodighiero said.

The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office issued details of the arrest in a statement Monday, May 19.

According to the statement, a Gilliam County sheriff’s deputy at 7:08 p.m. on May 16 on Interstate 84 eastbound stopped a vehicle for a traffic lane violation after receiving a driving complaint. Rowan was driving the vehicle and was its lone occupant.

The deputy gave Rowan sobriety tests, which he failed. The deputy then arrested Rowan for DUII and took him to the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office. There, Rowan provided a breath sample with a blood-alcohol level of .19%, according to the sheriff’s office. The legal limit is .08%.

The sheriff’s office cited Rowan and released him to a “responsible third party.”

Rowan the morning of May 18 issued an apology to the community for his actions.

“I want to sincerely apologize to the people who elected me and place their trust in my leadership,” Rowan said in the statement. “I take full responsibility for the situation surrounding my recent arrest for DUII and understand the seriousness of the matter.”

Rowan said he will not discuss details “as the legal process unfolds” but is cooperating with the authorities and “will comply with all applicable laws and guidelines.” The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office in its statement reported it will not provide further information on the case, and any questions need to go through the Gilliam County District Attorney’s Office.

Rowan continued in the statement: “I’ve been navigating some personal challenges, but I know that does not excuse the impact this has had on my constituents and the community. I am committed to learning from this experience, rebuilding trust, and accepting all responsibility for my poor decision and actions and being fully transparent as the process moves forward.”

Rowan has no previous arrests or convictions for driving impaired, according to Oregon state court records. As a first time offender, he could qualify for a diversion program.

Rodighiero said he has to review all the evidence before making any determination.

“We’re still looking into what exactly happened,” he said, including any footage from the deputy’s body cam and dash cam. Rodighiero said that could reveal, for example, charges such as reckless driving.

He also explained the case would go to a grand jury for an indictment only if there was evidence of a felony. Otherwise, Rodighiero said, his office would present misdemeanor charges to the court. Driving under the influence is a misdemeanor.

Rowan serves as the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association’s representative on the 26-member Board on Public Safety Standards and Training of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. DPSST certifies or licenses police officers and other public safety professionals in Oregon. He also serves on the DPSST’s Police Policy Committee, which, among other duties, reviews certification cases.

Certified officers who have been arrested five days to report that to DPSST.

DPSST Communications Director Sam Tenney said the sheriff’s office did that, and the department will open a “professional standards” investigation into the matter to look for dishonesty, misuse of authority and misconduct.

However, he said, that investigation will not begin until after the criminal case reaches its conclusion, and during this time Rowan’s law enforcement credentials remain valid but under review.

The Police Policy Committee meets May 22 at DPSST in Salem. But Tenney said Rowan will not be participating on the committee nor the DPSST Board while his case is pending.

To learn more about DPSST’s professional standards case process, click here.