James McLaughlin, Candidate for Deschutes County Sheriff, Says He’s Been ‘Politically Targeted’

James “Mac” McLaughlin outed himself as one of three Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office employees Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert placed on paid administrative on June 5, stemming from allegations of misconduct.

He calls it “political theatre.”

A DCSO Lieutenant and the SWAT commander, McLaughlin published a social media post on the subsequent evening of June 6, stating that the allegations, made by two citizens and relating to the same incident, are “unsubstantiated” and Rupert placing him and the two others on paid administrative leave is the latest example of “systemic political targeting” that has plagued the Office.

Both Rupert and McLaughlin are campaigning for the sheriff position in the November election.

In the statement, McLaughlin wrote “he has nothing to hide” and that he “deeply respects the internal investigation process.” He intends to “cooperate fully and transparently, because that is the standard of leadership he intends to bring to the Sheriff’s Office.”

McLaughlin did not reply to texts regarding the status of the inter-agency SWAT team, of which he is the commander.

Turmoil at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has made headlines for decades.

William Bailey, who campaigned for the interim sheriff position that the Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners appointed to Rupert, appealed the administrative leave he was placed on by then-Sheriff Kent van der Kamp when he made critical comments during a June 2025 radio show appearance about van der Kamp’s character, months after the District Attorney’s Office placed van der Kamp on the Brady List for lying under oath, the Source reported. As interim sheriff, Rupert recused himself from Bailey’s appeal, referring the decision to the BOCC in an unprecedented incidence of extra-departmental personnel decision making, the Source reported in April.

Former DCSO Deputy Eric Kozoswki filed a 2021 lawsuit that claimed that then-Sheriff Shane Nelson retaliated against him for having campaigned in the 2016 sheriff race. A jury awarded him $1.06 million and cost the county $1.2 million more in legal fees, the Source reported.

Hired in November 2007 as a civilian employee, McLaughlin was reclassified as a deputy in October 2008, according to police records. McLaughlin was promoted to sergeant in November 2019 and then as lieutenant in February 2025.

McLaughlin writes that he is running for sheriff “to put an end to the exact kind of systemic political targeting that this office has unfortunately become known for. The citizens of this county deserve an agency that is focused on public safety, not political theater.

“Our campaign has stated from day one that we will run with honor. We will not engage in retaliation or mudslinging, and we will not allow this distraction to slow us down,” he continued, reiterating that his “commitment to the men and women of this agency, and to the citizens of this county, remains absolute.

“The campaign continues at full speed,” McLaughlin wrote as a sign-off. “We look forward to seeing you on the trail.”