The city has settled the James Chasse jr lawsuit today—bringing one of its most controversial ever legal battles over police brutality to a conclusion. The Mercury has confirmed the story with an off-record source, and one named witness to Chasse’s beating who had been subpoenaed to appear at the trial beginning June 4. Attorney Mark […]
Cops
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Police Chief Hits Back At Mayor’s Budget Spin: I’ll Have To Cut 25 Cops, Cold Case Unit, “No Plan”
A frustrated Police Chief Rosie Sizer called a press conference at central precinct this morning to hit back at Mayor Sam Adams’ assertions last week that “no officers would be let go” as part of his budget plan to cut 50 positions at the Portland Police Bureau. In fact, she’s going to have to fire […]
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It’s the Portland Police Children’s Book!
Contrary to all y’all haters’ predictions, the Portland Police Bureau’s “A Kid’s Guide to What We Do” does not include a single picture of a pig. Officer Thoman and his #1 fan It does include a picture of a Taser, though! And some thoughts on horse poop. Officer Dave Thoman and his daughter, Woodmere Elementary […]
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Cops Release “Kids’ Guide To What We Do”
And some of us in the Mercury news room have spent the last few minutes trying to imagine what it might look like. Email me your entries. Win a prize. Sarah Mirk is going to the actual launch in an hour or so. God save her. Here’s January “the intern” Vawter’s effort: And Patrick Coleman’s, […]
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Watch Out, Anarchists! The Police are Preparing for You.
We just received this press release from the Portland police, warning that in the weeks days up to May 1st, we may be seeing some more of the Starbucks-harassing, trash can-rolling protests like those that occurred after the death of Jack Collins. I couldn’t find any discussion of the protest over at Indymedia and I […]
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District Attorney: Reed Needs “Zero Tolerance Policy” for Drugs at Renn Fayre
A Reedie tipped us off to an interesting email the entire Reed campus received this week from the a federal and Multnomah County District Attorney. The Reed community has been shaken this year by two student deaths, one from a heroin overdose. The attorneys say it’s time to clamp down on Renn Fayre, the annual […]
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Westerman Comes Clean On Personal Life
DAVE NEESON Either it’s his personal life, or it’s not his personal life. Personally, I’m a bit sick of hearing that people had things going on in their “personal lives,” that they can’t talk about, and then seeing it splashed all over the fucking newspaper the next morning. From this week’s story on Westerman’s road […]
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Police Union Boss Scott Westerman In Road Rage Incidents: “See if he really is a cop with a problem, or just somebody pretending he’s a cop.”
Update, 2:20pm “I hope Scott Westerman does not resign from the PPA,” says Jesse Cornett, who is running against police commissioner Dan Saltzman for city council. “If he did, he would be back out on the street, and could be a real danger.” Original post: OMG. Maxine Bernstein has the scoop of the year: Portland […]
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Grand Jury Testimony Released in Jack Collins Shooting
Update: Commissioners Amanda Fritz, Dan Saltzman and Police Chief Rosie Sizer just announced that tomorrow they will release recommendations for how to improve interactions between people with mental illness and the Portland police. Release will be tomorrow, 2:30 PM at the Lovejoy Room in City Hall. Check Blogtown for the story then! Now back to […]
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Chasse Sergeant In Off-Duty Road Rage
Did Sergeant Kyle Nice put child’s life in danger?
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Breaking: Police Finally Release Photo of the “Razor Knife”
New photo shows the weapon allegedly used to attack Portland cop, which led to fatal shooting of transient.