MCSO Deputy Balenger back on duty

Mineral County Deputy Jim Balenger has returned to active duty for MCSO following a paid administrative leave that began Oct. 3, 2012. During that time period, the Montana Department of Criminal Investigations conducted an investigation into unknown allegations regarding Deputy Balenger.

Given the length of Deputy Balenger’s leave and Article II, Section 9, of the Montana State Constitution which states that, “no person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure,” the Mineral Independent has begun the process of obtaining the investigative information by filing an official request with County Attorney Marcia Boris.

Under the Montana Criminal Justice Information Act the findings of the DCI investigation are considered confidential. However, because of Deputy Balenger’s status as a county employee there is a procedure which allows the release of investigative information.

After the filing of the request, Boris will begin drafting an official complaint and said there will “likely be a hearing” on the matter. As such, the process could take a considerable amount of time.

At the beginning of Deputy Balenger’s paid administrative leave, Mineral County Sheriff Ernie Ornelas said 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 while he was on leave the dog was inactive.

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

The Mineral Independent will continue to provide information on this story as it breaks.