EUGENE, Ore. — The University of Oregon’s police chief has abruptly left the post.
The Register-Guard reported that the police department issued a statement late Friday saying Carolyn McDermed “announced her retirement.”
University police spokeswoman Kelly McIver says more information on the leadership transition will be available Monday.
In September, a federal jury awarded $755,000 to a former University of Oregon public safety officer after finding McDermed and a top lieutenant retaliated against him for speaking out about department wrongdoing. Jurors found McDermed violated James Cleavenger’s First Amendment rights when she fired him in 2012 and in 2014 when she tried to prove he was too untruthful to testify.
The university has appealed.
McDermed previously worked at the Eugene Police Department. She was first hired at the university in 2008 as assistant chief.
She served as interim chief before being commissioned as chief in July 2013.
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