Deschutes County
Latest Stories

Oregon authorities identify 2 killed in waterfall accident, still searching for 1 missing
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday identified two people who died in a fatal waterfall accident as search operations continued for the one person who remains missing.

1 killed, 2 missing after a group is swept over Dillon Falls near Bend
The group went over the falls on the Deschutes River, about 10 miles from Bend, on Saturday afternoon, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp confirms internal investigation into former political rival
Candidates are lining up to replace the sheriff, but a former political rival now under investigation is not among them.

Politics
Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp moves up retirement to July 31 as a recall launches
Facing a recall effort, Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp moved up his plans to step down.

Law and Justice
Embattled Deschutes Sheriff Kent van der Kamp says he will retire Aug. 31
The planned move comes as a state board is poised to take his badge over decades-long allegations of misconduct and dishonesty.

Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp is a step closer to losing his badge
A state committee voted Thursday that Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp should be banned for life from serving as a law enforcement officer in Oregon.

The Deschutes County Sheriff may lose his badge for lying. He also protected a deputy accused of the same thing
Ahead of a state board review, Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp said he's formulating "a retirement plan in the near future."
Housing
Deschutes County approves RV rentals amid Central Oregon housing shortage
Deschutes County opts in to Oregon law that allows recreational vehicles to be used as rental dwellings on some rural lands.

Deschutes County starts process to select landfill site all over again
After negotiations fizzled, Deschutes County reconvenes group to recommend places where new landfill could be built.

Politics
Some special district races in Oregon have no candidates. What happens to them?
There is an election this month in Oregon, but some special district races across the state don’t have any candidates.