Deputy Duryee resigns from sheriff's office
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POLSON — Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Duryee resigned the last week of December with his last day of work on Jan. 3, according to Lake County Undersheriff Dan Yonkin.
Yonkin said Duryee gave no reason for his resignation but said he was sorry it was short notice.
Duryee, Lake County Sheriff Jay Doyle, Yonkin and Lt. Mike Sargeant all are defendants in a lawsuit filed by former Lake County Deputies Terry Leonard, Steve Kendley and Michael Gehl and current deputies Ben Woods and Levi Reed in February of 2012.
The men sued for alleged violation of their Constitutional rights and the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization Act.
The suit also alleged the plaintiffs have been reprimanded in their employment, have suffered demotion, have been denied promotion and have been subjected to a hostile work environment.
The plaintiffs also made complaints about Doyle, Sargeant and Duryee belonging to an illegal poaching group known as the Coyote Club, LCSO personnel stealing ammunition from the county for their own personal use, alleged altering of a LCSO firearm from a rifle to a machine gun and Duryee’s false representation of service in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Duryee has already been investigated by the Montana Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council, or POST. POST found Duryee claims of military service false and notified Duryee of a certification revocation hearing in 2012, which has not yet been held. POST didn’t answer phone calls prior to press time.
A trial is set to begin in March in federal court on the other allegations.
