Oregon’s Jail Crisis: Deputy Neglect Linked to Inmate Deaths in Multnomah County

Ten people have died in Multnomah County jails over the last two years, and two County Sheriff’s Office deputies were this week placed on probation in connection with the death of two inmates in separate incidents. Both men were required to resign their posts.

James Brauckmiller (53) failed to monitor Todd Franklin (58), who committed suicide in the Portland Jail in June 2023.

Prosecutors state that Brauckmiller did not perform the two-an-hour checks he was required to undertake as part of his watch and had falsely logged that he had done so.

According to a data salary base, Brauckmiller earned $204,973 in 2022, of which about 50% was from overtime.

He will spend six months on probation under the supervision of a judge and must surrender his law enforcement state license.

Michael Mersereau (27) was working at the Inverness Jail in August 2023 when Clemente Pineda (36) died of a fentanyl overdose after obtaining the drug from another inmate.

Mersereau, who earned $116,078 in 2023, was accused of falsifying records after failing to undertake eight security checks. His defense attorney claimed the deputy had already clocked out from work when the incident occurred.

Both men are on six months’ probation after pleading no contest to a charge of second-degree official misconduct (they did not admit guilt but acknowledged that there was sufficient evidence for a conviction.)

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office operates the two county jails – the Multnomah County Detention Center and the Inverness Jail.