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Sheriff criticized for seeking state Senate post following handling of Narconon investigation.
Tulsa World: Sheriff criticized for seeking state Senate post following handling of Narconon investigation
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/cour...cle_29e644aa-3751-5ddc-91b8-53ee8c313172.html
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Two men connected to the embattled Narconon Arrowhead say they consider Pittsburg County Sheriff and state Senate candidate Joel Kerns unqualified, saying he didn't do enough to investigate the drug rehab center, where a string of deaths drew national attention.
When asked for comment, Kerns said he couldn't see the link between his role in the investigation at Narconon Arrowhead and their experiences with the facility, saying his department carried the investigation as far as they could before it was handed over to different agencies.
Robert Murphy, whose daughter was the third patient to die at Narconon Arrowhead between 2011 and 2012, and former patient at the center, Colin Henderson, held a news conference Tuesday in which they challenged Kern’s fitness for District 7’s state Senate seat.
Both said they were "appalled" that someone who failed to prevent the Narconon deaths was seeking government office.
Murphy's daughter, 20-year-old Stacy Dawn Murphy, died at the center in July 2012. Her death followed those of patients Gabriel Graves in 2011 and Hillary Holten in 2012.
Murphy and his wife sued the rehab facility in 2013 over his daughter's death. He said if Kerns' department had properly investigated the previous deaths or complaints, she might still be alive.
[SNIP]
"As far as I know, we did everything feasibly possible that we had our means to,” Kerns said about the investigation.
Murphy and Henderson's criticism hinged in part on newly discovered information revealed in a deposition with Kerns.
In the deposition, Kerns reportedly said he did not speak with anyone from Narconon Arrowhead during the investigation, did not review surveillance footage from the facility and never read the OSBI's final report into the deaths.
These statements coupled with a 2013 TV news interview Kerns gave, in which he says his department's investigation found nothing out of order at the facility, prove he's unqualified, Murphy and Henderson said.
The deposition will be made public when Murphy's case goes to trial, Henderson said.
When asked about the apparent contradiction between his on-air statements and the deposition, Kerns said he couldn't comment because of ongoing court proceedings.
"I really can't even comment on what I did say," Kerns said.
[SNIP]
Paighten Harkins
918-581-8455
[email protected]
Twitter: @PaightenHarkins
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Tulsa World: Sheriff criticized for seeking state Senate post following handling of Narconon investigation
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/cour...cle_29e644aa-3751-5ddc-91b8-53ee8c313172.html
* * * * * BEGIN EXCERPT * * * * *
Two men connected to the embattled Narconon Arrowhead say they consider Pittsburg County Sheriff and state Senate candidate Joel Kerns unqualified, saying he didn't do enough to investigate the drug rehab center, where a string of deaths drew national attention.
When asked for comment, Kerns said he couldn't see the link between his role in the investigation at Narconon Arrowhead and their experiences with the facility, saying his department carried the investigation as far as they could before it was handed over to different agencies.
Robert Murphy, whose daughter was the third patient to die at Narconon Arrowhead between 2011 and 2012, and former patient at the center, Colin Henderson, held a news conference Tuesday in which they challenged Kern’s fitness for District 7’s state Senate seat.
Both said they were "appalled" that someone who failed to prevent the Narconon deaths was seeking government office.
Murphy's daughter, 20-year-old Stacy Dawn Murphy, died at the center in July 2012. Her death followed those of patients Gabriel Graves in 2011 and Hillary Holten in 2012.
Murphy and his wife sued the rehab facility in 2013 over his daughter's death. He said if Kerns' department had properly investigated the previous deaths or complaints, she might still be alive.
[SNIP]
"As far as I know, we did everything feasibly possible that we had our means to,” Kerns said about the investigation.
Murphy and Henderson's criticism hinged in part on newly discovered information revealed in a deposition with Kerns.
In the deposition, Kerns reportedly said he did not speak with anyone from Narconon Arrowhead during the investigation, did not review surveillance footage from the facility and never read the OSBI's final report into the deaths.
These statements coupled with a 2013 TV news interview Kerns gave, in which he says his department's investigation found nothing out of order at the facility, prove he's unqualified, Murphy and Henderson said.
The deposition will be made public when Murphy's case goes to trial, Henderson said.
When asked about the apparent contradiction between his on-air statements and the deposition, Kerns said he couldn't comment because of ongoing court proceedings.
"I really can't even comment on what I did say," Kerns said.
[SNIP]
Paighten Harkins
918-581-8455
[email protected]
Twitter: @PaightenHarkins
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