The feds show up
Just when I was complaining that federal law enforcement doesn't get involved when the chips are really down in Portland, they show up twice within a week. I was surprised to see that U.S. marshals made the arrest of a teenager who allegedly shot another teenager in broad daylight on a North Portland street. Hardly seems like a federal crime, but I think it had something to do with the suspect's being a fugitive on two other serious charges as well.
Meanwhile, the FBI's reportedly getting cracking on that dusty whodunit story involving some Portland police officers and a private eye who conveniently "committed suicide" right after he supposedly told some folks he had some dirt suggesting that some members of the police force had been involved in one or more murders. County D.A. Mike Schrunk, who was in his same office when an allegedly related police corruption scandal blew up at the time, has Pontius Pilated the whole mess over to the FBI. And they're on the case, which now has turned very ugly indeed. The events at issue are a quarter-century old, but when last I looked there was no statute of limitations in Oregon for murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder, or solicitation to commit murder. And apparently the revived interest in the case has hit a nerve with somebody in town.
Between these two developments and the recent attempt to get a mole in Portland City Hall, I'd say federal law enforcement may actually be awakening from its slumber around here.
| Posted at 3:14 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (7)
Ever read "Harry King: A Professional Thief's Journey" ?
http://www.amazon.com/Harry-King-Professional-Deviance-Criminology/dp/0471871524
Corruption and Portland go way, way back, indeed. "Portland Confidential" drew upon this book as a primary source. I found it at Half-Price Books before I even lived here.
You will laugh out loud as you read this guy's death-bed confession about his life of total crime, based in the Portland of circa 1920-1960, with vivid descriptions of who took the copious amounts of bribes. King shot himself when he simply could not function in the straight world, shortly after the book was published.
Laugh and laugh again when you realize that nothing ever really changes.
Posted by Cabbie | March 7, 2007 3:43 AM
I am waiting for Tommy's statement that this investigation is a severe abrogation of his lese majeste or that the FBI is Georgie's tool being used to persecute him.
Think he has the guts to stand up to the Police union this time?
Posted by Steve | March 7, 2007 5:40 AM
You would think the Oregonian would jump on this story. If a big police scandal was investigated by our current District Attorney Michael Schrunk and nothing happened, that would raise questions about his ability to hold the police accountable even today. So it's very much a current story. Maybe it's the Goldschmidt Rule: It hasn't been 30 years yet so the Oregonian doesn't feel it has to look at this. Oh well, that's why God invented blogs - to cover the news stories when our esteemed daily doesn't want to get involved.
Posted by Bill McDonald | March 7, 2007 6:38 AM
"If a big police scandal was investigated by our current District Attorney Michael Schrunk and nothing happened, that would raise questions about his ability to hold the police accountable even today. So it's very much a current story."
Don't look, but Chasse and the latest fire dept beatdown. This town is still as much a pop stand as when Neil was running it.
Posted by Steve | March 7, 2007 7:18 AM
King shot himself when he simply could not function in the straight world, shortly after the book was published.
Interesting outbreak of suicide around town
Posted by jim karlock | March 7, 2007 10:46 AM
hmmmm....wonder if this "Harry King" mentioned above is a relative to PPA's Robert King? You know that dynastic Police
Families are the lest trustworthy, don't ya!
Posted by PDX Wondering Wanderer | March 7, 2007 5:31 PM
I am waiting for the mole in City Hall to spill the beans. It will be interesting.
Posted by lw | March 8, 2007 1:07 PM