THINGS ARE ROCKY at the top of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) as Chief Mike Marshman and his executive assistant, Lt. Mike Leasure, were placed on leave Friday evening. Mayor Ted Wheeler announced the auditorâs Independent Police Review (IPR) was investigating an unspecified rules violation by the two.
Over the weekend, sources told the Oregonian that the investigation stems from Leasure possibly forging a PPB log for Marshman to imply the chief attended a training session he didnât actually show up for. The training, the O said, was for command staff and the PPBâs âEmployee Information System, a computer-based system intended to identify at-risk employees who have a high number of complaints, or a pattern of excessive use of force.â
That system was created after the cityâs settlement agreement with US Department of Justice, which found the PPB used excessive force on people with perceived mental illnesses. Marshman was previously the PPBâs liaison with the DOJ, and hired to his current post because of his attention to the matter.
This is only one of the PPBâs troubles. Just a few weeks ago, Captains Kevin Modica and Derek Rodrigues were placed on leave for unrelated issues. And the Oregonian reported Monday that a sergeant has also been put on leave for allegedly making a racist remark. DOUG BROWN
LAST WEEK, the Oregon Republican Party decided to chime in with some really dumb comments about Portlandâs status as a âsanctuary cityâ that refuses to help federal agents execute President Trumpâs cruel immigration policies.
Oregon GOP chairman Bill Currier called undocumented immigrants âcriminalsâ who, because of Portland policy, âare then free to commit further rapes, murders, and other felonies against our families and friends.â
Party spokesman Kevin Hoar said Wheeler is protecting âcriminal aliens who are murdering and raping his cityâs citizens.â
The Republicansâ evidence for their claims about Portland and immigrants? An alleged rape in Maryland.
âThis statement is inaccurate and harmful,â Wheeler responded on Monday.
Meanwhile, federal agents on Sunday detained 25-year-old Portland man Francisco Rodriguez Dominguez, whoâs been here since he was five. The Portland man works for the Latino Network coordinating a food pantry at Reynolds Middle School, and is a soccer coach, the ACLU of Oregon says. He was released on bond on Monday, after widespread public outcry. DB