Bernie Giusto

Two years ago, in preparation for a WW interview, Multnomah County Sheriff Bernie Giusto placed an inflatable Bozo the Clown on his desk. It was the kind of doll you punch again and again, but it keeps popping up, with the same inane grin.

Observing Giusto this year was like watching that clown. A sense of sick fascination turns to shades of pity and finally disgust. But Giusto should have long ago stepped out of the ring and resigned for his self-inflicted wounds. When it came to choosing our Rogue of the Year, there was but one heavyweight champ,Giusto.

The sheriff has long been on the Rogue radar (see "Boss Hog," WW, June 29, 2005), but his travails piled up this year when several skeletons fell out of his closet at once. In April, the state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training began investigating a complaint that Giusto is ethically unfit to wear a badge. Tigard businessman Robert Kim's complaint chronicled a laundry list of alleged snafus, shadowy deals, romantic affairs and coverups that have long been associated with Giusto's 34-year career in law enforcement.

DPSST invited Giusto to resign rather than face the prospect of being stripped of his badge—an offer Giusto should have taken. Instead, Giusto blamed the media for his predicament and set off fierce speculation about how and when county officials or voters could oust him. In response Giusto hired a subordinate, Lt. Bruce McCain, to act as his lawyer—sparking cries of conflict of interest.

Any lingering doubt we had about our selection was eliminated in recent days when District Attorney Michael Schrunk unleashed a scathing report about Giusto's mismanagement of the county jail. A special grand jury seconded that conclusion and recommended Giusto be stripped of his jail oversight. On Dec. 21, Giusto told Schrunk and County Chairman Ted Wheeler he was considering resigning before his term ends in December 2010. We can only hope he was serious.

Giusto was unavailable for comment on being named Rogue of the Year. But McCain says his boss might be proud. "Considering how it's construed in this town almost as a badge of honor, I'm sure he's not going to be too concerned," McCain says. "There are probably some other disappointed nominees."

None so fitting as Giusto. Badges off to you, sheriff.

WWeek 2015