Earlier today I linked to Nick Budnick’s Tribune story about the release of new video footage showing the cops who arrested James Chasse, in the jail booking area, talking about how they tackled him to the ground. Now, Police Chief Rosie Sizer and the City Attorney, Linda Meng, have put out a statement:
It’s interesting to note the city attorney attacking the Chasse family’s lawyers for releasing the video. They don’t explain why the internal affairs investigation into the officers’ behavior, relating to the death, remains incomplete more than two years after the fact. Where’s the fairness in that, I wonder?
The statement also appears to contradict public relations wisdom, which is: Don’t attack the distributor of the message, attack the message itself. Or stay silent. Attacking the lawyers for releasing the video to the press is likely to leave the public asking, “is that all you got?” It’s Palin school…almost comes across as haughty. Very strange.
Maxine Bernstein has more coverage at the Oregonian.
Funny since the city cops suggested that you simply post 911 audio and police reports earlier in the week….
If I recall, Maxine Bernstein has been called out on her coverage several times, for starters.
This is a civil law suit, the city/criminal investigation was over long ago.
What does Palin have to do with anything?
What is your point?
When can this rest in peace?
“Our system of justice depends on a careful and complete presentation of the evidence…”
Hence our current system of injustice.
On one hand we have low crime and liberal Portland, and on the other, a bunch of dumb rednecks for a police force looking for any excuse to kill someone, and a justice department willing to help them with that. Fire Sizer and the rest of the dirtbag cops. Portland deserves a competent and intelligent police force, and that is not what we have now.
“Tainting the jury pool” is the city’s way of complaining about their theory of the case going down the drain – by the time this case goes to trial (if indeed it does), how many people are going to remember it?
It’s a shame people don’t call the Brian Schmautzes and Cathe Kents on their usual “Everything the police did is A-OK and justified” after something happens…