Deputy Balenger placed on paid leave pending state investigation

MINERAL COUNTY - Mineral County Deputy Jim Balenger was placed on paid administrative leave Oct. 3 while the Montana Department of Criminal Investigations conducts an investigation into unknown allegations.

According to Mineral County Sheriff Ernie Ornelas, there are many reasons that can cause an officer to be placed on paid administrative leave. "All I can say is that there is currently an investigation underway," Sheriff Ornelas said.

Deputy Balenger is the only trained handler of the counties K-9 unit and Sheriff Ornelas said that while he is on leave the dog will be inactive.

"Some organizations have multiple handlers," Sheriff Ornelas said. "But most do not."

The paid leave comes at a time when the Sheriff’s Office is already short one officer, Adam Cole, who was recently transferred to the county attorney’s office.

Sheriff Ornelas said that the office recently joined the Montana Law Enforcement Test Consortium and they are awaiting results from the most recent test to be provided.

"Once we get the list we will send out notice to candidates who qualify under the COPS Grant," Sheriff Ornelas said.

The sheriff’s office received $148,208 from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services, which will provide three years of salary for a new officer.

Stipulations of the funds, part of President Barack Obama’s Veterans Job Corps Initiative, are the new hire must have had at least 180 days of active duty in the military on or after Sept. 11, 2011.

Currently the sheriff’s office has five members, including Sheriff Ornelas.