A local government transparency effort is urging the City of Grants Pass and Josephine County to adopt and publicly publish formal whistleblower policies, arguing that employees and residents should have clear guidance on how to report suspected misconduct without fear of retaliation.
The initiative, organized by local resident Toni Webb, highlights that while both the city and county are subject to Oregon’s whistleblower protection laws as public employers, neither appears to have a standalone whistleblower policy or dedicated reporting procedures prominently available on their official websites. The information was scheduled to be presented to Citizens for Responsible Government during a meeting on July 13.
The proposal points to several Oregon jurisdictions, including Washington County, Clackamas County and Corvallis, which have adopted publicly available whistleblower policies and, in some cases, independent third-party reporting hotlines. Supporters argue these systems provide employees with confidential or anonymous methods to report suspected fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement or other unlawful conduct while helping protect whistleblowers from retaliation.
According to the proposal, the City of Grants Pass’ employee handbook addresses workplace conduct, grievances, harassment and retaliation related to protected activities but does not outline a dedicated whistleblower reporting process. A review of Josephine County’s website similarly did not identify a published whistleblower policy. The proposal also notes that Josephine County is currently facing litigation filed by former employees alleging retaliation after participating in ethics-related investigations, although those allegations remain subject to the legal process.
The effort cites several Oregon statutes, including ORS 659A.199, ORS 659A.230 and ORS 659A.233, which provide legal protections for employees who, in good faith, report suspected violations of law, criminal activity, fraud, waste, abuse or certain healthcare-related violations. Supporters contend that although these protections exist under state law, publicly available local policies would make the reporting process more accessible and understandable for employees and members of the public.
The proposal also recommends that Grants Pass and Josephine County consider implementing an independent third-party whistleblower hotline. Such systems, commonly administered by outside vendors, allow individuals to submit confidential or anonymous reports through secure websites or toll-free telephone numbers. Reports are then forwarded to designated officials for review, while whistleblowers receive tracking numbers that allow them to monitor the status of their complaint without revealing their identity.
Advocates say outsourcing the reporting process to an independent provider can increase public confidence by ensuring complaints are handled through an impartial system rather than solely within the agency involved. They argue that clearly published policies and secure reporting options encourage individuals to report concerns that might otherwise go unreported because of fear of retaliation or uncertainty about where to begin.
Toni Webb, who is leading the effort, is inviting community members with information or an interest in supporting the adoption of a published whistleblower policy and a possible third-party reporting hotline to participate in the initiative. The proposal seeks to encourage discussion among local officials and the public about strengthening transparency, accountability and protections for individuals who report suspected governmental misconduct.