Name: Editorial: Fire marshal’s leadership change deserves full disclosure by Oregon State Police
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Editorial: Fire marshal’s leadership change deserves full disclosure by Oregon State Police

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NEW!154sharesBy Sept. 11, wildfires raging through western Oregon had already . At least seven people were dead and dozens more were missing. With the fires burning out of control and advancing on communities up and down the Willamette Valley, tens of thousands of Oregonians had fled their homes.It’s exactly in such moments of anxiety and fear when Oregonians need to have faith in those leading the response. Unfortunately, it was in this moment that Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton decided to put thewith almost no explanation. Citing a need for a “leadership change,” the agency said Hampton had put Jim Walker, the state fire marshal since 2014, on leave and that Deputy Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple would assume the responsibilities of acting fire marshal. Shortly after, Walker resigned.Hampton may be entirely justified for making such a drastic change in the middle of an unfolding catastrophe. Perhaps moving an apparently ineffective fire marshal helped avert greater losses. Unfortunately, he has done little to provide that justification. As The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Noelle Crombie reported, Walker was placed on leave over concerns he may have misused his authority to search for five missing people as a favor to an employee – and misled his bosses about it. Sources also told Crombie that Hampton was unhappy with Walker’s management of the fires. Yet, Oregon State Police Capt. Timothy Fox told the Salem Statesman-Journal that the decision to put Walker on leave was unrelated to his handling of fires – a response that only raises more questions. Rather than clarify why Hampton would take this step, Fox said they “regret the distraction” and declined to comment.That’s a mistake on multiple levels. Oregon State Police instead should fully disclose the reasons for this ill-timed “distraction” and any previous issues that contributed to Hampton’s decision. The public interest in understanding the reasons for a mid-crisis leadership change far outweigh concerns over personnel privacy. Oregonians' faith in public safety agencies depends on leaders' being open to scrutiny, owning up to mistakes and resolving not to repeat them.The need for full disclosure doesn’t stem from idle curiosity. Oregon is burning amid historic wildfires and already, there are questions about various agencies' response, from to how orders. The state’s handling of the crisis must be part of that examination of what, if anything, should be improved for the future.And the questions go beyond this crisis. Not only does the public deserve to know whether there was a legitimate reason to put Walker on leave, but Oregonians also should have the opportunity to see whether Hampton himself contributed to this debacle by failing to take action sooner. Were there previous complaints about Walker’s management? Did Hampton do anything in response? Should Hampton have enacted a leadership change long ago rather than waiting until unprecedented fires and destruction put tens of thousands of Oregonians' lives and homes at risk?This is as much about Oregon’s culture of accountability as it is about what Walker may or may not have done. As we have seen with the Oregon Employment Department and its disastrous management of unemployment insurance, punishes Oregonians when a crisis hits. It’s also about Oregon’s allergic reaction to transparency. As we have seen with , leaders' initial refusal to release critical information, such as outbreaks at businesses, also put Oregonians at greater risk. As an agency charged with protecting the public, Oregon State Police must own up to the circumstances and failures that necessitated a leadership change amid a crisis when experience and professionalism matter the most.Hampton, who has one foot out the door with his impending retirement, might not care that he’s leaving Oregonians with these unanswered questions. His successor, Terri Davie, should. If Hampton doesn’t deal with the loose ends he’s leaving behind, she should ensure a good start to her own tenure by releasing the information herself.How state leaders handle crises can either build trust with the public or break it. The wildfires have already caused widespread devastation. Hampton shouldn’t let trust in the agency he has served for so long be another casualty.-The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial BoardOregonian editorialsEditorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. Members of the editorial board are Therese Bottomly, Laura Gunderson, Helen Jung, John Maher and Amy Wang.Members of the board meet regularly to determine our institutional stance on issues of the day. We publish editorials when we believe our unique perspective can lend clarity and influence an upcoming decision of great public interest. Editorials are opinion pieces and therefore different from news articles.To respond to this editorial, or a .If you have questions about the opinion section, , opinion editor, or call 503-294-7621.Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

NEW!154sharesBy Sept. 11, wildfires raging through western Oregon had already . At least seven people were dead and dozens more were missing. With the fires burning out of control and advancing on communities up and down the Willamette Valley, tens of thousands of Oregonians had fled their homes.It’s exactly in such moments of anxiety and fear when Oregonians need to have faith in those leading the response. Unfortunately, it was in this moment that Oregon State Police Superintendent Travis Hampton decided to put thewith almost no explanation. Citing a need for a “leadership change,” the...

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Editorial: Fire marshal’s leadership change deserves full disclosure by Oregon State Police

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