Members of the armed group occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge traveled to John Day Tuesday to ask the Grant County sheriff to join their cause.

He declined, but county commissioners throughout Eastern Oregon have discussed the possibility that the protest could “migrate” elsewhere in the region.

Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer said three members of the militia asked him to travel to Harney County, but he refused to do so without the approval of the Harney County sheriff. Palmer would not say whether he agreed with the occupation, but described those participating as “patriots.”

“I think it’s brought some things to light that might not have otherwise got the attention that they did,” he said of the occupation. “I do believe that the resolution and solution to the way this is going to be handled, if it’s handled properly, could have a long-lasting effect on our county as well.”

Palmer said any positive outcome, however, would require the government to make some concessions.

“I believe the government is going to have to concede to something,” he said. “I don’t think these guys are going to give up without knowing that they’ve done something that benefits the people of our country or our region.”

Palmer said the members of the group did not discuss their future plans of their occupation with him. He said he met the militants Tuesday at a John Day restaurant. He was invited to lunch by a constituent and was unaware members of the militia group would be there. He said “a few” other Grant County residents attended the meeting as well.

“I had no idea who I was meeting with when we had lunch (Tuesday),” he said. “I walked in, I realized who they were and I sat and listened to them … They actually wanted me to come down there and make a stand, and I said ‘Not without the (Harney County) sheriff’s blessing.’”

Palmer said he has spoken to Harney County Sheriff David Ward and told him he would not interfere without permission. Palmer said he has “a pretty good working relationship” with the sheriff from the neighboring county.

Palmer said, however, that he was not willing to excoriate the occupation either.

“About the only thing (Ward) really told me is I’m welcome to come down there if I would shame and humiliate them into giving up and I said, ‘No, I won’t do that,”’ Palmer said. “I’m not in the business of denouncing or shaming or humiliating anybody.”

Ward could not immediately be reached for comment.

Grant County Court Judge Scott Myers said his Harney County counterpart Steve Grasty warned him that members of the armed group may have been traveling to Grant County.

Myers said he participated in an Association of Oregon Counties conference call with Grasty and leaders of most Eastern Oregon counties on Wednesday. They discussed the possibility that the armed group could migrate elsewhere.

“Grasty said that we should all be concerned about the likelihood of arrival (of the armed group) and the safety of our citizens,” Myers said. “My biggest concern would just be public safety. I don’t know that they would try to take over a building or anything like that … I am concerned, but I don’t expect an occupation. I don’t expect them to come and hold up (here), but there’s always that possibility.”

Palmer has previously expressed disappointment with some federal land management policies, specifically U.S. Forest Service road closures in Grant County. In 2015, he deputized a group of residents to create a county natural resources plan in hope of providing local government more leverage when working with federal agencies. The plan was not approved by county governance, but a petition has been filed to put it up for a county-wide vote.