Bundy-loving extremist sheriff’s ‘secret army’ exposed

Oregonians in Grant County have good reason to fear their sheriff, who appears to be an unaccountable, out-of-control, fascistic extremist:

An investigation into the activities of a rural sheriff who was one of the Oregon occupier’s biggest boosters has revealed that he has a mostly secret army of “special deputies” who report directly to him with little information available about exactly what they do.

According to OregonLive, Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer has an official staff including an undersheriff, two deputies and a small jail staff.

What makes Palmer stand out from other sheriffs in Oregon, is the large contingent of friends — 65 appointees since since 2010 — who are given ID cards and free rein to go where others can’t, including government land that is off-limits to others.

Many in the community are concerned that Palmer uses his private group as a small army keeping tabs on the populace and federal employees while helping to enforce his personal agenda.

Palmer — who is elected but regards himself as a “constitutional sheriff” above the laws of the federal government — drew national attention for his support for the band of militants, led by Ryan and Ammon Bundy, who occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for 41 days beginning in January.

Oregon Live has more:

He’s the target of a state criminal investigation for allegedly tampering with public records. He faces a separate administrative review stemming from 11 complaints lodged with the state agency that licenses police officers.

Residents concerned about his actions formed a group to stand against militia incursions in Grant County. They believe Palmer has made the county a welcome roost for self-styled patriots.

As controversy has enveloped him, Palmer stopped talking to The Oregonian/OregonLive and other media. He also declined to respond to written questions.

Yet his core backers remain in his corner. One noted in a social media post that every time a critic speaks, “Glenn gets another 100 votes.”

By: dave-dr-gonzo

David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.

* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.