POLICE COMMISSIONER Dan Saltzman appeared to bow to pressure
from the police union on Monday, November 30, by reinstating a
bad-apple cop he had suspended 11 days earlier—placing the
officer on desk duty instead, until an investigation is completed.
Saltzman overrode Police Chief Rosie Sizer on Thursday, November 19,
suspending Officer Christopher Humphreys after he was caught on video
shooting a 12-year-old girl in the leg with a “less-lethal” beanbag
shotgun. Sizer had wanted to place Humphreys on desk duty while an
investigation into his actions was carried out.
The officer’s suspension sparked a 650-person rally and a
“no-confidence” ballot on Saltzman and Sizer last week, organized by
the Portland Police Association (PPA), the union representing more than
900 rank-and-file officers [“A Line in the Sand,” News, Nov 26]. But
the PPA called off the no-confidence vote an hour before the results
were due to be announced on Monday afternoon, November 30, saying it
respected Saltzman’s decision to reinstate Humphreys on desk
duty—as Sizer had originally suggested.
Sizer, Saltzman, and the union all declined further comment by press
time, but the move placed the rest of city council in a difficult
position—having to support the police commissioner’s
flip-flop.
City Commissioner Amanda Fritz said she felt Saltzman was “making
good decisions” on Monday afternoon. “You can’t just take someone off
the force without doing a proper investigation,” she said—even
though Fritz had supported Saltzman doing exactly that, the previous
week.
“My priority throughout these negotiations has been to see that the
investigation is thorough and that the officer is reassigned,” said
Mayor Sam Adams. “Commissioner Saltzman deescalated what he thought was
a polarizing situation, impacting operations in the police bureau.”
“I stood with Dan when his authority to determine the appropriate
action was challenged,” says City Commissioner Nick Fish. “He has
apparently had a change of heart; he has not discussed it with me and
I’m going to withhold judgment until I have had a chance to talk with
Dan.”
Meanwhile, City Commissioner Randy Leonard slammed Sizer and
Saltzman on Monday night, saying, “I fear that this has empowered bad
behavior on the part of some of the command staff of the police bureau,
and has in my view weakened the principle of chain of command and
civilian oversight.
“There was a time for this to be resolved,” Leonard continued. “The
council was unanimously united in their support of what the
commissioner and the chief had done. We expressed that, publicly, and
it seemed like the time to be clear that the city would not tolerate
those kinds of behaviors on the part of police officers. I’m
disappointed.”
Gawd, if only our union wielded the power that the police union does!
Man, Portland has got to be one of the dumbest places there is! I really don’t understand how – in a city full of soo many un-employed people – that filthy, cowardly goddamn pig Humphreys has remained in a job DESPITE murdering one innocent ill man & assaulting a minor girl! Why hasn’t this pig been charged? Dan Saltzman is a COWARDLY son-of-a-bitch for backing down after the PPA had their klan rally/bitch fit last week! HIS ass should resign effective immediately for this (among many other things).
“City Commissioner Amanda Fritz said she felt Saltzman was “making good decisions” on Monday afternoon. “You can’t just take someone off the force without doing a proper investigation,” she said—even though Fritz had supported Saltzman doing exactly that, the previous week.”
Fritz is a HYPOCRITE as well as a damn COWARD if this is her official position. SHE needs to go, too!