MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR - On Tuesday, December 6, 2023, a Multnomah County Grand Jury indicted Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Corrections Deputies James Brauckmiller and Michael Mersereau on a single count, each, of official misconduct in the first degree, related to two adult in custody deaths in 2023.
In the course of the respective adult in custody death investigations, MCSO detectives learned that Brauckmiller and Mersereau may not have performed their job duties as required. MCSO detectives opened separate investigations into their alleged conduct and referred their investigation to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
While an indictment is an accusation of a crime, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) takes all allegations of misconduct seriously, and we will continue to cooperate with the District Attorney’s Office to ensure a thorough investigation into these matters.
As a result of the Grand Jury’s decision, both employees remain on administrative leave, which is standard practice. In order to maintain the integrity of the criminal case, the Sheriff’s Office will not be commenting further on these particular criminal proceedings at this time.
