Grants Pass community service officer arrested

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A Grants Pass Department of Public Safety community service officer is facing charges, accused of leaking information on an active investigation.

According to the Josephine County District Attorney Office, the leak happened on Tuesday, October 29th.  Less than 48 hours later, community service officer Heather Corthell was arrested and booked at the Josephine County Jail on Thursday.

“Within public safety, we believe and trust in legitimacy, and as difficult as it was to arrest an employee with the department of public safety, I know, we know, it was the right thing to do,” said Chief Warren Hensman, GPDPS.

The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety said she’d been working with the department for less than 6 months.

“Our community service officers have a lot of access within the public safety department, they have almost as much access as a police officer,” said Hensman.

Corthell is charged with interfering with a peace officer, tampering with evidence, and hindering prosecution.

“Hindering prosecution is a felony and then the other two charges are misdemeanors so the case will be going before a grand jury,” said Lisa Turner, Chief Deputy with the Josephine County District Attorney Office.

This isn’t the first time the agency has arrested one of its own.  In 2015, a 74-year-old volunteer, Lee Darrow was arrested for stealing 43 guns. The department says since then, they have boosted security measures.

If any additional changes need to be made now, the chief said he’ll make them.

“As a public safety chief and the director of this organization I am going to take a look at our procedures, our policies, and if there is anything we need to fix if I notice anything we could have done better, I sure will,” said Hensman.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was asked to lead this investigation.  The information leaked involves both the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety.

Corthell posted bail Thursday night. She’s scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in Josephine County.

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