A Prineville police officer is on leave and under investigation after a video surfaced online appearing to show him urinating in public outside a local bar.

Officer Jacob Gentry was placed on leave after the police department became aware of the video, said ShanRae Hawkins, of StingRay Communications, a public relations firm that works with the city.

“The behavior seen in the video is troubling,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins did not provide any further details about the incident, including when and where it happened, adding: “The investigation is ongoing, so we don’t have details at this time.”

She confirmed that a video reviewed by The Bulletin was the one being investigated. It was posted online Monday and appears to show Gentry off-duty, urinating through metal bars and onto a parking lot in front of a bar. People can be heard yelling in the background of the video.

“Are the toilets broken inside?” one person says.

“No, they’re not,” a person responds.

“The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending investigation,” Hawkins said.

Gentry could not be reached by phone for comment Thursday. He started his career as a police officer in Oregon at the Toledo Police Department in May 2021, records show. He joined the Prineville Police Department in December 2022.

Crook County District Attorney Kari Hathorn said she was aware of the video but noted that urinating in public is not a criminal offense. She said she was “unaware of any allegations of criminal conduct” and added that the incident was being investigated independently and that her office wasn’t involved.

Gentry is the latest Prineville Police officer to be placed on leave.

Chief Larry Seymour and Capt. Rob Gray remain on paid nondisciplinary administrative leave amid an investigation into what the city has called “an internal non-criminal personnel matter.” They were put on leave on July 21.

Prineville without police chief, captain, for nearly three months

Prineville without police chief, captain, for nearly three months

Hawkins said in a Jan. 2 email: “The third-party investigation has concluded, and the city is evaluating internal options for the next steps.”

“The continuity of police operations remains stable,” Hawkins added.

Hawkins said the city expects to provide an update on the investigation with the chief and captain within the next week. Officials have provided no details so far about why the two high-ranking officers were placed on leave.

Gentry is also the second police officer in the past year to face accusations of public urination outside a bar.

Former Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kyle Pettit was disciplined after he flashed his official sheriff’s ID in an attempt to get more alcohol after a bartender cut him off while he was drinking off-duty at Southside Pub in Bend on June 5, 2022, according to disciplinary records. Then, a cook spotted him urinating on an electrical box outside the bar’s back door, according to the records.

Former Deschutes County deputy allegedly gave alcohol to minor

Former Deschutes County deputy allegedly gave alcohol to minor

Pettit was placed on leave and then resigned amid a criminal investigation into allegations that he gave alcohol to a minor while off duty.