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ALLEGED MISCONDUCT State will investigate ticket dismissals State will review allegations Jackson County sheriff's lieutenant improperly dismissed tickets Comment By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 19, 2015 at 4:43 PM Updated Feb 19, 2015 at 6:58 PM By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 19, 2015 at 4:43 PM Updated Feb 19, 2015 at 6:58 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Sheriff's lieutenant may face misconduct charges over ticket dismissals... » Social News The Oregon Department of Justice will review the case of a sheriff's lieutenant suspected of misusing his authority, the Jackson County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday. Oregon State Police had submitted its investigation of Lt. Marty Clark's alleged misconduct to District Attorney Beth Heckert Feb. 13. Heckert said the allegations were serious enough that she asked the DOJ to take a look as well.  Heckert said the case would have to be reviewed by either the DOJ or a neighboring DA's office because of potential conflicts inherent in local prosecutors handling allegations involving law enforcement. She said she chose the DOJ because its staff had more resources available. "They have their own investigators, which my office does not," she said.  A DOJ lawyer will be assigned to review the case and decide whether it warrants further investigation by OSP or by the DOJ's own special agents. The Oregon Attorney General's Office would be responsible for prosecuting the case if investigators find sufficient probable cause. Clark has been on paid administrative leave from the Jackson County Sheriff's Department since Jan. 20, after Sheriff Corey Falls opened an investigation into allegations that Clark had improperly dismissed tickets. Falls told the Mail Tribune last week that he suspects the practice may have gone on for years. Falls said two deputies had approached him during his first week in office to report the alleged misconduct. If the allegations against Clark are true, they could potentially constitute first-degree official misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor. First-degree official misconduct is defined under state law as a public servant failing to perform his or her official duties, or performing an unauthorized exercise of those duties. Clark's position will be eliminated April 17 as part of Falls' reorganization of the department into a command staff with three divisions, Falls said Thursday. Clark was notified of the changes before he was put on paid administrative leave and could have tested for other positions but chose not to, Falls said. Falls said even though Clark will no longer be working for the department April 17, he opened the investigation into the alleged ticket dismissals because "it was the right thing to do. There could've been a crime committed." The Department of Justice regularly handles investigations of alleged misconduct by public officials, including former Gov. John Kitzhaber. Heckert said that while her staff regularly works with DOJ on large investigations, she couldn't recall the last time they'd had to ask the agency to handle an investigation of a local law enforcement officer. She said DOJ likely would try to expedite its investigation in light of Clark having been on leave for almost a month. Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471 or by email at [email protected] . Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty . By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 19, 2015 at 4:43 PM Updated Feb 19, 2015 at 6:58 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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