Curry County, Oregon

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against Curry County Sheriff John Ward, ruling that most allegations fell outside its four-year jurisdiction and finding no evidence of recent disclosure violations. The complaint, filed by county legal counsel, alleged Ward personally benefited from nearly $400,000 in donations the John G. Atkins Foundation gave the sheriff's office between 2009 and 2023, including a storage building on his property and a trailer registered in his name. Ward denies wrongdoing. County commissioners say the dismissal doesn't resolve concerns, noting the matter remains under review by state safety regulators and federal investigators.