Sun rose this morning, will set this evening
I don't know why they even bother to report something this obvious. The Portland cop who shot an unarmed man in the back as he was running away from police isn't going to be indicted by anyone who works for Mike Schrunk. But the grand jury has some concerns they'd like to relay to the police bureau, there'll be an internal investigation, blah de blah de blah farookin' blah.
Oh, and Dan Saltzman's acting busy all of a sudden. How many unarmed people have the police killed since he joined the City Council in 1998? Now he's got questions. Maybe by 2022 he'll actually call somebody on the carpet.
Comments (11)
When's the election? By then Dan will go back in his hole and wait for further orders from Randy.
Posted by Steve | February 10, 2010 8:36 AM
One other thing, any rumor Al Sharpton is paying for an atty for further work on this?
Posted by Steve | February 10, 2010 8:39 AM
Al Sharpton has about 1/4 the credibility as Chris Humphries and Sam Adams combined.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | February 10, 2010 8:44 AM
From the Police Bureau statement:
"Officer Frashour was concerned about the safety of residents inside the apartments where Campbell was running toward..."
Not too concerned to fire a rifle in their direction but concerned.
Posted by Bill McDonald | February 10, 2010 9:10 AM
"Not too concerned to fire a rifle in their direction but concerned."
===
Don't forgot the rest of that sentence... something about how he was concerned about the safety of his fellow officers (who were hiding behind cop cars, etc, with their guns drwan and pointed at the victim), and also concerned about his own safety, while also hiding behind something, while pointing his AR-15 at the victim. All of whom were wearing bullet proof vests. But still, concerned about their own safety.
Any citizen, even in their own home, can not legally shoot an intruder in the back, if the intruder is retreating & moving away from the home owner (hence reducing the threat), therefore eliminating the 'use of lethal force for self defense'.
But the police are not citizens, they are held to a lower standard, much lower.
Posted by Harry | February 10, 2010 9:41 AM
Jack, you report it because it stinks.
Who's afraid of a fair hearing, a trial?
Schrunk can indict without a grand jury. He alone can hold a fair trial, and use the forum of law, instead of ad hoc stupidity which has erased his credibility.
If you believe our system of justice is fair, call for an indictment.
If you believe cops can justify every lethal action by claiming they're "not safe" (which makes them sound like cowards, BTW), skip trials. You've agreed by default in separate justice systems, one for cops and one for everyone else.
But answer this, do you think tonight's Marva Campbell will call 911 for help?
Posted by Jason Renaud | February 10, 2010 12:40 PM
In the City of Portland, has a Grand Jury ever indicted a Policeman for anything? I think that in the interest of public safety it is time to disarm the police. This would provide a much greater PR boost than yet another streetcar or green building.
Posted by Dean | February 10, 2010 1:03 PM
"...separate justice systems, one for cops and one for everyone else." They all would have to answer though to a Federal Justice System and that time is probably way over due. A federal investigation of Portlands law enforcement from the police to the DA would shake some things up in this town and this town needs a good shaking.
Posted by Tom | February 10, 2010 4:36 PM
On a related note - why were there about a dozen motorcycle cops at the Courthouse about 1:00 p.m. today - they arrived in unison, turned off and got off their bikes in unison. Surely they didn't all have 1:15 court hearings? Another swell use of taxpayer dollars.
Posted by umpire | February 10, 2010 6:02 PM
police state
A nation whose rulers maintain order and obedience by the threat of police or military force; one with a brutal, arbitrary government.
Posted by al m | February 10, 2010 9:12 PM
Gee, makes the Lloyd Stevenson public inquest look like the good ol' days :-/
Posted by puffkitty | February 11, 2010 1:50 AM