Former narcotics detective faces felonies after 1,200 marijuana plants found on property

By Joe Siess Herald and News Dec 22, 2021

A former narcotics detective and current reserve officer for the Malin Police Department was arrested Tuesday after a drug task force found roughly 1,200 illegal marijuana plants growing on his property outside Dairy.

Peter Michael Shepherd, who goes by the name Mike Shepherd, faces felony charges of unlawful manufacture of marijuana and "engaging in a financial transaction in property derived from unlawful activity," according to Klamath County District Attorney Eve Costello.

Eric Smith, 41, who allegedly leased Shepherd's property to grow the drug without permits, was also arrested Tuesday afternoon at the Malin City Hall by the Klamath County Sheriff's Office. Smith faces the same charges as Shepherd.

Shepherd has a long career in local law enforcement. He ran for Klamath County Sheriff in 2012 and worked as a civilian at Kingsley Field until 2016 in the information protection and human resource divisions. He also worked for the Klamath County Sheriff's Office from 1990 to 2004 as a marine deputy, patrol officer, civil deputy and narcotics detective, among other positions. Since 2007, he has worked part-time for the Malin Police Department. He is no longer a certified officer. According to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, Shepherd's certification expired in 2019.

After posting bail on Tuesday, Shepherd visited with Ron Broussard, chief of police at the Malin Police Department. Broussard said he put Shepherd on an immediate leave of absence.

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