“There are many officers who do a fantastic job, a tremendous job,” said the Reverend Doctor LeRoy Haynes, Vice President of the Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA) this morning. “But there are some rotten apples that need to be exorcised from the Portland Police Bureau.”
Haynes made the remarks at a rally this morning on the steps of the downtown justice center—the same steps taken over last week by 40 cops in response to Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman’s suspension of their fellow Officer, Christopher Humphreys—for shooting a 12-year-old girl in the leg with a “less-lethal” beanbag shotgun.
“Although the 12-year old girl allegedly resisted the arresting officer, the close range use of a shotgun with a beanbag was an excessive and unnecessary use of extreme force,” said Dr.T.Allen Bethel, President of the AMA. “However, we believe and strongly encourage all citizens to obey the law.”
“Secondly, we believe Officer Humphreys’ judgment in the recent James Chasse death, as well as other cases, demonstrates his inability to make reasonable judgments as a police officer,” Bethel continued. “Third, we support civilian rule over the Portland Police Bureau through our elected commissioners and their appointed chief of police.”
This morning’s rally was explicitly organized by the AMA in response to yesterday’s march by the police union on city hall. “The rally showed to us that if you wear blue, you’ll be justified with any action that takes place,” said Haynes. “Whether your action was just, or unjust. We understand that it’s the union’s job to advocate for its members. But we understand that there’s a higher authority that calls for justice.”
- DR.T.ALLEN BETHEL, PRESIDENT OF THE AMA, FRONT & CENTER, AND REV.DR.HAYNES, RIGHT. BACK LEFT—NEW NORTH PORTLAND STATE REPRESENTATIVE LEW FREDERICK
“There is a pattern here,” Haynes continued. “From Kendra James, to Jahar Perez, to James Chasse, there’s a pattern that Portland police officers are not being held accountable for using excessive or deadly force on citizens.”
He said Humphreys could have deescalated his encounter with the 12-year-old, instead of indulging in an “excessive use of violence.” “When you’re circling somebody like prey, like you’re getting ready to shoot a deer, something is wrong.”
Newly selected North/[updated: NorthEast] Portland state representative Lew Frederick also showed up.
“Reverend Haynes said it best at the very end,” he told the Mercury. “It’s difficult to tell a group of 12-year-olds to trust the police officers they come in contact with, if this is the response that another 12-year-old gets.”
“Deep down at the heart of this whole thing is the question of the spirit of the community,” said Frederick. “And how the community feels in terms of whether it can trust the police. It’s disturbing to see the kind of response we saw from some of the union yesterday—to not understand that sense of spirit in the community, and not understand the impact that the march and some of the comments yesterday may have had on people in the community.”
So except for the faith community, mental health patients and advocates, the homeless community, the African American community, the legal community, Chief Sizer, the progressives, the liberals, the lefties,the city commission, children, the fans of civilian rule, a state representative, and the parents of Portland, the Police Association has a lot of support. You stay classy, Police Association.
Thank you Reverend Haynes for making it as clear as possible:
‘”The rally showed to us that if you wear blue, you’ll be justified with any action that takes place,” said Haynes. “Whether your action was just, or unjust.”‘
Bravo to the organizers of this rally.
And THAT is how you hold a rally.
Check out a map of Frederick’s district–it’s largely NE Portland, not North. Shields referred to it as the “North/Northeast Portland seat.”
Oooooooh, drama!
@Northeast Portlander—You’re right, and I’ll make the change in the post to reflect that.
There should be more organized rallies like this one. I am impressed. Yesterday’s rally by the police union left a feeling of fear in some people; the pictures were intimidating.
Disappointed not to see some “I Am James Chasse” signs.
I cannot help but be struck by the expressions on the ministers’ faces and their body language: concerned, peaceful and sincere. Such utter contrast to PPB and Westerman: mean, angry, threatening, intimidating…..
is anyone else having flashbacks to mobster movies? There is so much action on the steps these days.
Albina Ministerial Alliance your actions are courageous and tactful and hopefully will lead to a more peaceful Portland. Thank you.
It is way past time to start using some type of “moral compass indicator” when hiring people to serve in the public forum. When I read about the last no confidence vote and the power it carries I immediately thought of the opussom(sp) incident-and I was right. In times like these when thugs, low lifes and other dangerous types manage our city, when liars and and the people w/out the compass are in charge, what can we expect.We need change and we needed it yesterday. The thugs and liars and thieves need to go. Thanks