Rowan case to be heard Thursday

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, August 19th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

SALEM – The Police Policy Committee (PPC) of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) will hear a report on the investigation into Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan at 10 a.m. Thursday. Rowan was arrested in May 2025 in Gilliam County on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving.

It is the policy of DPSST not to launch investigations into possible criminal charges of its certified officers until the charges are settled in court. That occurred on March 12 for the DUII and June 15 for the reckless driving charge. Rowan was a member of both the DPSST and the PPC board of directors, but stepped down shortly after his arrest.

The PPC investigation of the sheriff was carried out by Professional Standards Compliance Coordinator Melissa Lang-Bacho. In a four-page memorandum to the committee she says the group will need to decide whether Rowan’s conduct violates the board’s moral fitness standards. Her full report includes vehicle camera video, body cam video, and court records.

To view the livestream and other recorded videos, please visit DPSST’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@DPSST.