BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Deschutes County commissioners on Tuesday morning chose on a split vote Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Detective and Special Services Commander Ty Rupert to serve as interim sheriff after Thursday’s retirement of embattled Sheriff Kent van der Kamp.

Commission Chairman Tony DeBone and colleagues Patti Adair and Phil Chang all praised the quality and experience of the five applicants to serve in the position, but Chang abstained when it came time for a vote to appoint Captain Rupert to serve as sheriff for the next 18 months, until a new sheriff is elected by voters next year.

“I’m not opposed to putting Captain Rupert into this role,” Chang said, but he noted that a poll of the Deschutes County Sheriff Employees’ Association members, DCSO Detective Lt. James McLau

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