BEND, Ore. (AP) — The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners has approved a contract with a new union representing deputy district attorneys despite objections by District Attorney Patrick Flaherty.
The Bulletin reports that, with the adoption of the contract, the district attorney will no longer be able to fire deputies without cause.
Deputy district attorneys voted to form the union last fall after Flaherty announced he planned to dismiss some of the deputies hired by former District Attorney Mike Dugan, whom Flaherty defeated in an election last May.
Five deputy district attorneys, including chief deputy Darryl Nakahira, have been fired since Flaherty was sworn in Jan. 3.
