Oregon Public Broadcasting

Multnomah County Sheriff Bob Skipper is still dealing with state certification rules. April Baer has this update.

Anyone returning to duty after years away from a sheriff's desk -- in Skipper's case, thirteen years -- must re-certify with Oregon's Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.

Some sympathetic state lawmakers drafted a bill that allowed the 70-year-old Skipper to avoid the full refresher course, provided he passed a written test. But Skipper apparently didn't pass the first try.

He's sent a letter around to staff saying his testing skills are rusty. 

The training agency confirmed Skipper scored 65 percent, based on 3 tests. Passing grade would be 75 percent.

He'll have to retake the tests in coming months, probably in the last week in August.

This time the stakes are higher. If he can't pass the second time, he'll be back to square one in basic training.