Randy goes rogue on Chasse (Jack Bog's Blog)

The Fireman speaks out, three years too late, on the senseless police killing of a harmless, defenseless man.

I'm not sure why he's doing it, but I do know enough about human nature to deduce that he's not suddenly sharing his "feelings" out of an uncontrollable outpouring of genuine concern that justice be done in the case. Two strong possibilities are (a) the obvious story, that he's pouting over failure to get his way with his latest egocentric spending proposals, or (b) equally plausible to me, that his comments are part of a strategy by the city (or the meanies in the police union) to avoid a civil trial and prevent the most damaging facts about the case and the police officers from being made public.

There has never been a statement by anyone in city government about the Chasse case that was not accompanied by a strong odor of rat, and this one is no different.

I just hope and pray that unlike the Fireman, the victim's family isn't in this for money or ego. Making all the facts about the case public is far more important than any slap fight among the city commissioners over turf.

Comments (11)

Why does the Oregonian continue to parrot the police line that this is how things went down?

Two Portland officers -- Officer Christopher Humphreys and Sgt. Kyle Nice -- and then-Multnomah County sheriff's Deputy Bret Burton, who is now a Portland officer, arrested Chasse after he appeared to be urinating in the street. Chasse ran, the officers chased him, knocked him to the ground and struggled to handcuff him.

Posted by none | October 22, 2009 9:14 PM

P.S. Does the man on the pavement look like someone that presented a threat to three police officers?

Posted by none | October 22, 2009 9:32 PM

In depositions in preparation for the federal trial, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy said Chasse suffered 46 separate abrasions or contusions on his body, including six to the head and 19 strikes to the torso. Fractures to his back ribs also probably did not result from Chasse getting knocked to the ground or someone falling on top of him, but more likely resulted from a kick or knee-drop, state medical examiner Dr. Karen Gunson said.

It was reported here, but soon forgotten by the O, I guess. All the more reason that there be a full public trial of what happened.

Posted by Jack Bog | October 22, 2009 9:33 PM

What a disgusting move on Leonard's part- using Chasse's death as a way to win a political move. And then wrapping it in a self-proclamation of nobility, when it stood to benefit no one but himself. My sympathies go to Chasse's family for having to endure his comments.

Posted by Dawn | October 22, 2009 9:51 PM

If Randy had any sense of right and wrong he would have spoken up a long time ago.

Posted by Michael Wilson | October 22, 2009 10:45 PM

If Randy had any sense at all -- besides an inflated sense of self-aggrandizement -- he'd shut up and get out of public life forever.

Posted by Mojo | October 22, 2009 10:54 PM

Remember when Randy used to comment on these blogs?
Well, he discovered that he couldn't control his mouth or H.S. bully the feedback so he now hides out like a scared little girl afraid of facing the public in any open forum.

Posted by Ben | October 23, 2009 8:07 AM

Another sickening day observing PDX pols...

Posted by jimbo | October 23, 2009 9:09 AM

He's so outraged by the whole Chasse affair, that he could only hold his tongue for three years.

I hope the family goes to court. The truth will come out, AND the city will pay up.

Posted by Snards | October 23, 2009 9:14 AM

I'm with Mojo. Leonard is speaking out to distract the public from the fact that he is the number one sidekick of a mayor who is heading inexorably into the accountability chamber.

Same destination as Rosie Sizer, Kyle Nice, and the rest of the unspeakables.

Finally, we may some justice done, now that Kendra James, James Jahar Perez, Jose Angel Padilla and the rest of the long line of victims have been in the ground these many years.

Posted by gaye harris | October 23, 2009 9:45 AM

Jose Santos Victor Mejia Poot

Posted by none | October 23, 2009 12:55 PM

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Randy goes rogue on Chasse

Comments (11)

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