Governor names new leader of public safety department

January 27, 2010 | Statesman Journal

The deputy director of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training has been elevated to director of the agency, Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced Tuesday.

Eriks Gabliks has been serving as acting director of the agency since November, when previous director John Minnis resigned after allegations surfaced that he had sexually harassed a female employee.

"Eriks has the dedication, skills and integrity to lead this department and continue to improve our public safety training and standards," Kulongoski said in a prepared statement.

Gabliks has been deputy director at the agency since 2005, but has been an employee there since 1990.

DPSST provides training and certification for more than 35,000 police officers, corrections officers, parole and probation officers, fire fighters, 911 dispatchers, polygraph examiners and private security officers.

Minnis and the DPSST continue to be the focus of an unlawful-practices complaint by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, which is investigating the harassment allegations.