Resident accuses Klamath County sheriff's office of mocking crime victim during public comment

Christie Verbalas told the Klamath County Board of Commissioners on May 13 that employees of the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office publicly mocked her and her family while the office investigates alleged crimes against them.

Verbalas said an active deputy reacted to a social-media post about her mother’s death with a laughing emoji and that “other KCSO employees,” including the department finance manager, publicly called her “disgraceful” and “starved for attention.” She said those messages were later endorsed by additional employees.

Verbalas said she has sought “a thorough, complete investigation” into crimes against her family for more than two years and suggested the sheriff is less likely to engage because she is not a county resident and therefore not a voter. “If the sheriff chooses to hear the concerns of a crime victim based on the ability to reelect them, that is a problem,” she said.

Verbalas added that her mother was a Klamath County resident and that the family has paid county taxes. She asked commissioners to consider whether pursuit of justice should end when a county resident dies.

No commissioner response or formal action was recorded during the public-comment period. The board proceeded with its agenda items after the allotted public-comment time expired.

The remarks were made during the meeting’s public-comment period and were presented as a citizen’s account and allegations; the board did not vote or issue directives on the matter during the session.