What Should Have Happened
- Department should have conflict-of-interest policies requiring disclosure of personal relationships
- Officers with family/close friend relationships to leadership should be identified and documented
- Recusal procedures should exist for matters involving relatives of command staff
- Clear boundaries between professional and personal relationships should be established
What Actually Happened
- No documented conflict-of-interest policies were in place
- Personal and professional relationships overlapped extensively
- Deputies socialized regularly with Sheriff's brother without disclosure requirements
- No recusal framework existed when Sheriff's family members were involved in incidents
People Involved
Event Details
Background Context
This entry documents the personal relationships between key individuals that existed before the November 2022 OWI arrest. These relationships are critical context for understanding why the handling of Marc King ’s arrest raised conflict-of-interest concerns.
The Duva-King Relationships
Professional History
Damon Duva and Mat King (the Sheriff) have a long professional history:
We were partners for a while in the car. So we have some history together.
Social Relationship with Marc King
Deposition testimony established that Deputy Duva regularly socialized with Marc King (the Sheriff’s brother) outside of work:
QAnd you socialize with Marc outside of work?
QHow regularly do you guys get together for, you know, meals or events or other activities?
Regular Communication
The testimony also established regular communication patterns:
QAnd you call and text with Marcus?
QHow frequently do you call and text with him?
Family Socialization
The social relationship extended to family gatherings:
QAnd you and your wife will also socialize, from time [to time]?
Communication with the Sheriff
Deputy Duva was also questioned about his relationship with Sheriff Mat King :
QAnd you also call and text with Mat King, correct?
QDo you stay in close touch with Mat King given [your history]?
Why This Matters
Conflict of Interest Framework
These established relationships create significant conflict-of-interest concerns when:
- Deputy Duva was called to retrieve Marc King from jail after the OWI arrest
- Deputy Duva transported Marc King rather than following standard procedures
- Sheriff Mat King did not recuse himself from oversight of matters involving his brother
- Personal loyalties may have influenced how the arrest was handled internally
Pattern of Close Relationships
The testimony reveals a pattern where:
- Professional and personal relationships overlapped significantly
- Deputies socialized regularly with both the Sheriff and his brother
- Communication channels existed outside official department systems
- Family relationships extended the network of connections
Connection to November 2022 Events
These pre-existing relationships directly affected how the OWI arrest was handled:
- OWI Arrest: The arrest that tested these relationships
- Duva Retrieves Marc King: Duva’s personal relationship influenced his involvement
- Sheriff Notified: Informal notification through personal channels
Key Questions
- Should officers with close personal relationships have been involved in handling this matter?
- Did the department have policies addressing conflicts of interest for family members of leadership?
- How did these relationships affect the objectivity of internal handling?