The City of West Linn released an independent investigation report into the mishandling of the David Farley criminal case by the West Linn Police Department. The report reveals that the department violated several of its own policies during the investigation of disgraced former doctor David Farley, who has been accused by more than 150 former patients of using his position to sexually assault and abuse countless girls and women under the guise of providing medical care.
In 2022, prompted by a letter from more than 70 survivors assaulted by David Farley to Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, the City initiated an investigation into the conduct of its police department. Multiple people interviewed by police for the investigation asserted that the department mishandled this case, a claim substantiated by the findings of the report. In fact, detective Tony Christensen, who led the investigation, told an Oregon Medical Board “I don’t think there is a case here” before even interviewing any of Farley’s victims.
D’Amore Law founder Tom D’Amore was quoted in The Oregonian’s coverage of the report, saying, “This independent investigation clearly shows the West Linn Police Department grossly mishandled the David Farley criminal case, violating the rights of survivors and allowing their abuser to go free.” He continued, “The appalling indifference to the trauma of sexual abuse and stunning lack of candor from former detective Tony Christensen outlined in this report validates the experiences of victims who came forward. We will continue to pursue justice for the more than 100 survivors we represent against Farley and the institutions that enabled his abuse.”
The report indicated that Christensen lacked the necessary expertise in medical and legal matters related to sexual assault investigations. Christensen, who joined West Linn in 2019 after retiring as a sergeant following a 27-year career at the Portland Police Bureau, exhibited a lack of understanding of basic medical procedures and had no formal training in sexual assault investigations until well into his tenure on the Farley case.
In an interview with KATU about the report, D’Amore said, “The ending report, I think, completely vindicates these folks and, I’m glad to see it.”
The investigation found that survivors were not interviewed by qualified investigators. Nearly half of the police interviews with women who allege Farley sexually assaulted them were conducted without a victim’s advocate present, and some recorded follow-up interviews of women who filed complaints went missing from West Linn police files.
Tom continues to play a pivotal role in the fight to hold David Farley accountable, representing more than 150 survivors in an Oregon civil lawsuit against Farley and the medical institutions that enabled his sexual abuse. The suit outlines more than 25 years of reprehensible sexual abuse perpetrated by Farley. D’Amore Law Group continues to seek justice on behalf of the survivors fighting to hold David Farley accountable.
“These are incredible women that knew that this is wrong, and it’s impacted a lot of women,” D’Amore said. “I just commend them for fighting this battle, because it was their battle.”
