Curry County, OR. — The Curry County Board of Commissioners has accused current and former county sheriffs of concealing approximately $390,000 in donations to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, alleging the money was used to purchase personal assets and was never recorded in county financial records. This story has been being investigated and reported on by Oregon Roundup.
In a July 22 press release, the county said tax documents filed by the John G. Atkins Foundation reported approximately $390,000 in donations to the sheriff’s office between 2009 and 2023. County officials said they have no record of receiving those funds through official county accounts, where donations are typically deposited, budgeted, and documented.
According to the county, foundation records indicate donated funds were used to purchase vehicles and equipment titled to individuals rather than the county. The county also alleged that some purchased equipment cannot be located and identified a permanent building constructed at the personal residence of current Sheriff John Ward.
The county’s review attributes approximately $75,000 in purchases during former Sheriff John Bishop’s tenure to foundation donations, including a 22-foot jet boat, a Honda boat motor, a large grill and trailer, a Polaris RZR, and expenses for a retirement party.
The press release notes that Bishop retired in 2014 and later served as executive director of the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to first-degree theft in connection with the embezzlement of funds from that organization.
County officials also allege that more than $125,000 in purchases were made during Sheriff Ward’s tenure, including a metal shop built on Ward’s residential property, a Cougar travel trailer titled to Ward personally, a Kawasaki Jet Ski, a trailer, and a Polaris off-road vehicle.
According to the county, personal purchases funded through the foundation exceeded $200,000, while more than $90,000 in donated funds remain unaccounted for.
The county said it was previously unaware that the Atkins Foundation had made the reported donations or that the assets existed. Officials stated the assets were not listed in county records or insured by the county.
The allegations follow a separate county investigation completed in April 2026 concerning Sheriff Ward’s purchase, acquisition, and sale of approximately $10,000 in county-owned ammunition for personal use. That matter was previously referred to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training for review.
Commission Chair Jay Trost said the newly obtained records indicate that both current and former sheriffs used funds identified as donations to the sheriff’s office and Curry County Search and Rescue for personal benefit while intentionally keeping the transactions from county officials and the public.
“This matter continues to be under criminal investigation,” the county said in its release.
According to the commissioners, the case has been referred to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, and the Curry County District Attorney for possible Brady Law considerations. The county also said it intends to pursue civil remedies to recover assets and protect the public’s interests.
The press release includes a memorandum attributed to foundation representative Roy W. Scott, who contends that several discrepancies between IRS Form 990 filings and available receipts may reflect accounting or classification errors rather than missing funds. The memo states that certain equipment, including boats, ATVs, grills, and a Jet Ski, was intended for sheriff’s office or search-and-rescue use but not for county ownership. It also suggests some expenditures may have been reported under the wrong law enforcement agency and notes that documentation for some purchases could not be located due to their age.
The allegations remain accusations by Curry County officials. No criminal charges related to the reported donations had been announced at the time of the county’s release.
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