Les Stiles

A former Prineville police officer is suing the city and former police chief for $5 million, claiming he was unlawfully fired in November 2014.

Bryan Burton has accused former Police Chief Les Stiles of retaliating against him, and ultimately firing him, after Burton arrested the daughter of Crook County Undersheriff James Gautney for driving under the influence of intoxicants in August 2014.

Stiles, who was friends with Gautney, appointed the undersheriff as an “outside independent investigator” to see if Burton violated any work rules, according to the lawsuit filed last month in U.S. District court.

Gautney submitted a 33-page report detailing poor performance of Burton in October 2014, about two months after Burton arrested his daughter for DUII.

Gautney’s daughter later pleaded guilty to the charge.

“The report contained factual inaccuracies and false characterizations of evidence to reach the conclusion that plaintiff had performed his duties as police officer poorly, and should thus be disciplined,” Jeffrey Boiler, Burton’s lawyer, wrote in the lawsuit.

After receiving Gautney’s report, Stiles allegedly provided the information to then-Crook County District Attorney Daina Vitolins and conspired with her to erode his credibility as an officer, according to the lawsuit.

“Stiles’ purpose in doing so was to further his intention to retaliate against plaintiff for the arrest of his friend’s daughter two months previously,” Boiler wrote.

Burton worked for Prineville Police from October 2009 and earned an Employee of the Year award in 2012.

Before firing Burton, the lawsuit claims, Stiles secretly compiled minor work rule violations against Burton, and ordered him to “be more thorough.” In September 2014, Burton was placed on administrative leave regarding his work as a police officer, with no other reason given.

The lawsuit includes three claims seeking economic and noneconomic damages to be proven at trial, with a minimum sum of $5 million.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, kspurr@bendbulletin.com

Editor’s note: This article has been corrected. The original version misspelled Daina Vitolins’ name. The Bulletin regrets the error.