Sheriff explains shooting impact

RITZVILLE – An officer-involved shooting is going to impact Adams County Sheriff’s Office operations for months to come.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner met with county commissioners Tuesday, June 27, to discuss the impact on his agency’s operations.

Three of the county’s law enforcement officers have been placed on administrative leave after Ramon Morphin, 29, of Warden, was shot and killed while deputies tried to arrest him at a business in the 700 block of Kulm Road, Wagner said.

The sheriff planned to participate in a week-long National Sheriff’s Association training. But when he landed at the Grand Rapids, Mich., airport that morning he learned of the fatal shootout and caught a return flight to Spokane.

Wagner attended the commission meeting to explain the impact on his agency. He also asked for help in hiring a temporary replacement for the sergeant involved.

“One individual involved in the shooting is a sergeant with our department,” Wagner said. “He will probably be out (on administrative leave) the longest. The other two are deputies.

“They will be out until the investigation clears. That leaves the sheriff’s office short staffed.”

When Commissioner Dan Blankenship asked how long staff would be on administrative leave, Wagner answered that “it depends on the circumstances,” noting it could be as little as a few weeks or as long as a year.

It’s standard procedure for law enforcement officers involved in shooting a suspect to be placed on administrative leave while an agency investigates an incident.

“You can’t plan for these events,” Commission Chairman Jay Weise said. “Because of limited staffing levels in this emergency, we want to give the sheriff latitude to address personnel issues.”

County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Flyckt recommended establishing a memorandum of understanding to spell out details of any budgetary changes.

Wagner assessed the situation leading to the shooting, in part, as a policy issue.

Morphin was released from jail because of lax state rules, Wagner said.

“In other words, they’re letting everybody out,” he said.