POLICE COMMISSIONER Dan Saltzman suspended Portland Police
Officer Christopher Humphreys, with pay, on Thursday, November
19—starting a vicious political dogfight with the Portland Police
Association, the union representing over 900 rank-and-file
officers.
Saltzman, who is up for reelection next spring, was already facing
pressure to impose harsher discipline on Humphreys, the most
controversial of three officers involved in the 2006 death in custody
of James Chasse Jr., a man with schizophrenia. Witnesses saw Humphreys
beat Chasse brutally in the street before he died with 16 broken ribs,
and policing experts have since described his use of force and failure
to secure medical transport for Chasse as “unreasonable,” while a
lawsuit brought by the dead man’s family continues [“Terminal Energy,”
News, July 9].
On November 4, Saltzman gave Humphreys just two weeks off for his
role in the tragedy, prompting fellow City Commissioner Randy Leonard
to describe him as a “parrot for the police chief,” Rosie Sizer
[“Saltzman in the Wound,” Hall Monitor, Nov 12]. Meanwhile, mental
health advocates have slammed Saltzman’s “basic lack of courage”
regarding the Chasse incident [“Scapegoating Saltzman,” News, Oct
15].
Then last Saturday night, November 14, in East Portland, Humphreys
shot a 12-year-old girl in the leg with a “less lethal” beanbag
shotgun, after she struggled with a fellow officer who was trying to
arrest her for violating an exclusion from MAX, the city’s light
rail.
Saltzman suspended Humphreys, saying the actions he saw on a video
of the incident—which was subsequently released to the
public—were “not consistent with my expectations and what I
believe are the community’s expectations for a Portland police
officer.”
The police commissioner also overruled Chief Sizer, who told
reporters she was “troubled” by the incident, but that she would await
the findings of an internal affairs investigation before imposing
discipline.
“The police union can no longer tell its officers that politics do
not play a part in discipline,” said Police Union President Scott
Westerman, flanked by 40 of his fellow cops at a hastily convened press
conference last week on the steps of the Multnomah County Justice
Center on SW 3rd.
“Officer Humphreys’ action was appropriate, justified, warranted,
and necessary,” he continued.
Later that night, at a long-scheduled public safety meeting at
Jefferson High School in Northeast Portland, Saltzman told the
Mercury his decision to suspend Humphreys was “not
political.”
“It’s based on what I saw on the videotape,” he said.
Over the weekend, Westerman distributed “no confidence” ballots to
his membership, for both Saltzman and Sizer. A “Support Officer Chris
Humphreys” Facebook group was started, which had 803 members by press
time, and on Tuesday morning, November 24, 650 union members and their
families and friends marched on city hall wearing T-shirts and carrying
signs, many of which read, “I am Chris Humphreys.”
To loud cheers and a little heckling, Westerman asked the community
to “stand with us,” and criticized Saltzman for putting “political
expediency before public safety.”
Meanwhile, every single member of city council says they support
Saltzman’s move, even though it is understood to have come as a
surprise to them last week. Commissioner Leonard is also the only
commissioner to support a change in police chief, with the others all
explicitly supporting Sizer’s leadership.
Even if the police union’s membership votes overwhelmingly that it
has “no confidence” in Saltzman and Sizer, it is unclear what impact
such a vote will have. Indeed, it could simply show that the police
union’s outrage is powerless against the wishes of Portland’s city
commissioners, and by extension, the voters.
“This is a medium for our voice to be heard,” said Westerman on
November 24, when asked what he would do if city council ignores the
union’s no-confidence vote. He declined, too, to say which city
commissioner he would prefer to head up the police bureau—having
already called for Mayor Sam Adams’ resignation over an unrelated sex
scandal, earlier this year.
“In this context, I’d say the actions on both sides are
predictable,” says Gina Rae Hendrickson, a federal and state mediator
and negotiation coach specializing in workplace issues, based in Santa
Barbara, California. “Any time you have an incident like this, people
have to rally forth. For the police commissioner, it’s public
relations, and for the police union, they need to be seen as useful.
Many negotiations are about playing to an audience that’s not at the
table.
“A collaboration isn’t always appropriate,” Hendrickson continues.
“This might be a case of winning. Either the union wins or the
commissioner wins. Or it might just be a necessary ruckus, with the way
the entities are set up—each entity advocating for its own
audience.”
Seriously guys? Humphreys is the guy you want to back? Even after the video? Just on pure pragmatism grounds, I think you need to fire whoever’s advising you on PR. You’re making the generally good people at PPB look like a bunch of d-bags backing that loser.
What exactly will it take for this fat pig of a COWARD Humphreys to be FIRED & charged? Does he have to stomp a baby to death?!
The union is doing its job, that’s why they pay union dues.
If only other unions were as effective as the police union is we would all be better off.
“The union is doing its job, that’s why they pay union dues.
If only other unions were as effective as the police union is we would all be better off.”
I know, right? I’ve heard of people who spend months temping on the same job. They’d finally get hired, start paying dues, & get treated like a full-fledged employee. A month later they were laid off. A week or so after that, they’d be hired or called back… as a temp!
Fuckin’ bullshit!
I started a job this past summer that required me to join the Teamsters Local 206. I did my job well & was never so much as a minute late on the clock. But none of that kept me from being fired for “using nail clippers” on the floor.
“But none of that kept me from being fired for “using nail clippers” on the floor.”
Huh?
That’s the reason they fired you?
Or was it a case of last one hired first one fired?
The real issue here people is “protocol.” The cops followed it in an escalating situation. If you don’t like the protocol, address it with the administration to change it. The union was involved because cops should not be suspended for following the rules.
The cops don’t have time to ask for ID to verify their age or interview subjects to find out if they’re mentally ill and off their meds before they respond to inappropriate behavior.
Children and adults should learn to obey the laws, respect the police, and act responsibly.
OH…and where are the parents of this “12-year-old” and why weren’t they concerned their kid was out & hanging with hoodlums?
I fully expected to be laid off gracefully at a [particular] time, as this place (Crown, Cork, & Seal) reduces production by more than a 3rd every fall/winter. But long before that happened, i was summoned into the front office one morning & told that b/c i was seen clipping my nails on th floor (during down time) a week prior, i was fired effective immediately.
Their union seems to be awfully weak though, typical.
So when four cops were gunned down in an ambush in Tacoma this morning, is that somehow their own fault? You all are a bunch of losers. Try walking a mile in their shoes. People are crazy and the cops have to deal with them. Too many feral (that means ‘wild’ or ‘untamed’ if you didn’t make it past 8th grade) people on the street.
I wish I got paid vacation when I inflict mortal wounds to citizens. Boo fucking hoo.
bigsislilsis, do you honestly feel like you have to explain the word ‘feral’? That’s what blows my mind the most about your bat shit craziness.
Teamsters 206 is warehouseman. Fred Meyers amongst others. my father tells the story of being hired there (30 + years ago) and at that point he was told he would be 60 days and out, which was the last point Freddies could let you go without letting the union defend you. my dad said that on day 61 they showed up and told him that he was done, and he replied something to the effect that “that was yesterday, today is 61…” he retired 30 ish years later.
one of my favorite union people to work around, Tom Leedham, is the head at 206. all around a great guy from my interactions with him (he has been there forever)
For your reading entertainment, for all you cop haters.
Power to the people. WRITE and your voice will be heard.
Don’t apologize, don’t explain…at least for me personally. LOL
A letter to Saltzman, Adams, Sizer and the Police Review Board, from me, TGK.
*********************************************************************
From: Therresa Griffin-Kennedy
To: Mr. Dan Saltzman
CC to Mayor Adams
CC to Chief Sizer
Nov. 22, 09
Hello Commissioner Saltzman,
I’m writing today to offer my perspective on the recent paid leave of Portland Police Officer Christopher Humphrey’s. After viewing the recent video of the 12 year old girl being restrained by CH and the other officer, I can’t say that I saw anything that would be considered excessively forceful by Officer Humphrey’s or his partner.
I do not support this decision to put Officer Humphrey’s on paid leave. I won’t comment on the James Chasse death, because that is an entirely different issue and should not become a factor in this case, and is also an issue that I have recently come to believe was the result of many failures and not just excessive force by one individual.
I watched the video several times, (the quality of the video is excellent) and I was struck with the skewed manner that the media has described the scenario. I think that all anyone in the city will remember, perhaps even you, is that the girl was only 12; naturally, the situation if far more complex than merely the age of the girl and to condemn Officer Humphrey’s merely because of the girls age is not fair or just.
I’d like to offer my perspective, regarding when I initially saw the video. At that time, I thought that the two officers were grappling with a grown woman. Perhaps Officer Humphreys also presumed the girl was a grown woman or at least a large teenager and therefore a threat. The fact that this 12 year old girl stands 5 feet 7 or 8 inches tall and weighs 150-160 pounds is impressive.
Obviously, the two officers were not contending with your average 12 year old girl but an individual of early development and considerable strength, who clearly has a history of violence, and perhaps that even involves abuse at home, as it so often does in cases like this. Its clear violence is not something this particular 12 year old was unfamiliar with or unwilling to engage in, as she had been excluded from the Max train previously for “stealing a purse” which is a violent and criminal act of predation.
When the news casters kept harping on the manner that Officer Humphrey’s was “circling” the girl, I think they tried to spin it as if he were being ‘predatory’ but in reality he was merely attempting, as a trained PP officer to be careful in the area he may have chosen to use the bean bag gun. He was exhibiting care and precision, in an effort to not seriously injure the girl. Bean bag guns can cause serious damage, if fired in the head/neck, and/or chest, abdomen or back area.
Clearly that is not what happened. CH used the device to hit the back of the girl’s thigh, (from what I saw) The distance for a shot to the limb also seems appropriate.
I don’t think that Officer Humphreys immediate dismissal for this incident is fair. I think like many people in Portland, that it is motivated by politics and perhaps even the desire to placate the Chasse family, while they contemplate their next move in their lawsuit against the city… if that hasn’t already been resolved.
It seems extremely unfair and biased to do this to Officer Humphrey’s, who while having been accused of using force, has also been a very productive officer. Perhaps this is what many people do not understand; that to be a productive officer, often one must enter the fray of civilian violence, where other less effective officers fear to tread. Those who do not have experience in criminal justice or law enforcement may not understand these things.
I do not support your decision to discipline Officer Christopher Humphrey’s in this manner. I consider it unprofessional and hasty.
When you were quoted as saying that that average “laymen” after seeing the video would presume Humphrey’s has used excessive force, I immediately thought, “Yes, but the average layman or individual who has not studied criminology would not know what is appropriate or not with regard to what is or is not excessive force!”
As an aside, I would like to comment on another serious problem that this city faces and the PPB also faces. This is of course the misleading messages that officers often get from administration. Yes, they can ask for help for… (Domestic violence/drug use/depression/medical assistance) if they supposedly need it, but they had better beware because if they do ask for help, they risk the loss of their job for any number of minor infractions associated with that request.
Because of this well known dynamic of offered help by administration and police silence with regard to actually asking for help, it’s clear you are going to have officers who suffer in silence and do not ask for help.
This is going to lead to issues regarding drug use and/or anger management issues, excessive force etc. If Humphrey’s and other officers felt comfortable asking for help, in that they didn’t fear losing their jobs, (or the contempt or ridicule of others) then more officers would actually get help and the bureau and its Officers would be more effective and productive. Less stressed etc.
One situation that comes to mind is a former female officer who was fired for having lied about a minor medical issue, because of her desire for privacy. Privacy she ultimately did not get. Due to an embarrassing medical procedure she needed done, she asked for help from a police charity, which would have helped her financially with the cost of travel and the needed procedure. This woman lost her job for this minor infraction and was fired by Chief Rosie Sizer because she had not been explicit about the nature of the medical procedure.
Her decision to be less than forthcoming about the nature of the procedure was because she didn’t want to be “teased” by fellow officers, due to the nature of the procedure.
Portland police officers are held to a strict set of standards, regarding deception, a “zero tolerance” standard. If they lie, about anything, they can count on losing their jobs period.
If elected officials lie, repeatedly, Mayor Sam Adams comes to mind immediately, they are allowed to retain their position. This dichotomy is a clear indication of bias and the nature of the double standard, which is beneath the PPB and the city of Portland.
There ought to be the same zero tolerance applied to our elected officials (Sam Adams) as is applied to Portland Police officers.
Becoming a police officer is one of the most demanding and difficult endeavors a person can aspire to, requiring real strength, courage and intestinal fortitude. It is also one of the most unappreciated professions that will always be a necessary one, for public safety. This is why so many officers internalize the stress and consistently ignorant loathing of the public and often end up taking their lives. We need to do better for the officers of the city of Portland.
There is a lot wrong with the PPB that needs improvement and it should start here with the reversal of this unjust decision to put Officer Humphries on paid leave, for simply doing his job, which is dangerous and involves violence, as ALL police work tends to.
You Mr. Saltzman have never been a police officer, you have no experience on the streets and more than likely are not familiar with many of the procedures that are common knowledge to Officers with the PPB. I believe you have made a grave error in demanding that Officer Christopher Humphrey’s be put on forced paid leave when he did absolutely NOTHING wrong or unprofessional.
The support Officer Humphrey’s has received from Sgt Scott Westerman and the many other officers will move forward in momentum. I hope this situation does not become more than you initially expected it would or create even more divisive conflict for the city of Portland.
With my adequate understanding of police procedure, as a criminal justice major recently graduated from PSU, I did not see anything wrong with what Officer Humphrey’s or his partner did to restrain the girl in question, therefore I cannot support your unfair and unjust decision to take away his badge and gun and put him on paid leave!
Therresa Kennedy
I think the Chasse case brings to light the failure in funding and support for mental health in Oregon. When everything else is cut the only thing left to deal with these people are public safety. It’s not a cop’s job to deal with someone that is mentally ill on a daily basis. But they do because the state has no funding to help these people. If a schizophrenic or a person with violent conduct disorder( the girl on the max) is in the streets everyday, they are bound to run into the cops. You can’t blame cops for getting burned out dealing with clinically crazy people. I am a left winger but the police hating loud mouths just don’t make sense.
“I think the Chasse case brings to light the failure in funding and support for mental health in Oregon. When everything else is cut the only thing left to deal with these people are public safety. It’s not a cop’s job to deal with someone that is mentally ill on a daily basis. But they do because the state has no funding to help these people. If a schizophrenic or a person with violent conduct disorder( the girl on the max) is in the streets everyday, they are bound to run into the cops. You can’t blame cops for getting burned out dealing with clinically crazy people. I am a left winger but the police hating loud mouths just don’t make sense.”
Well some “left winger” YOU are!
Violent conduct disorder? What?! So all of a sudden you’re an effin’ psychotheripist & can just make up horse shit about someone you read about or saw in the news, really?! If that 12 yr old girl was the one being “violent” what the fuck does that make Humphreys?
Also, noone was having to “deal” with Chasse. By everyone’s account, James Chasse was minding his own goddamn business when those 3 pigs started running after him, chasing him down like some animal!
Chasse was off his meds and it should have been his family that was looking after him. My friend was there and witnessed what happened, how about you? I also watched the video which shows the girl fighting with the police. I don’t know too many 12 year olds that would knowingly fight with a bunch of police officers. And I am a left winger, but just because I’m not on the team that throws bricks through windows then I don’t count??. I dont agree with the heavy handed response in both cases. But you don’t understand that cops AREN’T mental health professionals. What about the case where the officer was shot in the face because he didn’t know the kids unbalanced history?? Just a dumb pig that got what he deserved right? moron
So you’re friend was there to wittness a helpless, defenseless man being tackled, kicked, & stomped to death by 3 cops, each of whom was a great deal bigger than Chasse.
And clearly you watched a completely different video than i, b/c i saw a 12 year old girl being man-handled by abunch of grown cops.
I would have shot the little brat with a bean bag, too.