How an Oregon cop fired for domestic violence got his job back

When a police officer is fired, most citizens assume that’s the end of the story. But in Oregon, the reality of law enforcement disciplinary action is far more complicated—and controversial.

In this episode of Beyond the Broadcast, host and investigative reporter Ezra Kaplan sits down with guest reporter Spencer Schacht to unpack the complex, multi-year disciplinary process of Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Nicholas Adler. Initially terminated in 2024 following disturbing allegations of domestic violence, Adler’s firing was quickly overturned by an arbitrator who ordered the department to rehire him.

But the story didn't end there. Discover how the arbitration system works, why it is so difficult to remove officers from the force, and the surprising role that Oregon's state certification board (DPSST) plays.

FOX 12 Beyond the Broadcast takes a deeper look at some of the reporting done by the journalists at KPTV in Portland, Oregon.