Mikey in the middle
The departing assistant Portland police chief, Mike Kuykendall, is taking shots from all sides. Not only is he being set up for a lawsuit by the Nazi-looking-but-he-swears-he's-not police captain, but the subordinate that Kuykendall says he was trying to support against said captain is also apparently ready to bring legal action against him:
She contends Kruger harassed, retaliated and discriminated against her once she was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to the precinct. She also alleges Kuykendall "minimized" her concerns that Kruger might have been violating bureau policies.Kuykendall, who oversaw internal affairs investigations as the bureau's civilian Director of Services, suggested Galvan be transferred to North Precinct and wrote to her in a text on May 21: "I am concerned you are not in a situation where you can thrive and reach your full potential as a lieutenant," Galvan's tort claim says.
But the money graph is way down in the story:
Galvan gave the text messages she exchanged with Kuykendall to police internal affairs last fall, part of their investigation into her complaint against Kruger. She said the texts reflected "their shared concern regarding Capt. Kruger's prejudices."Her attorney said internal affairs assured Galvan the texts would be kept confidential, but instead they were disclosed to Kruger, via the Portland Police Commanding Officers' Union.
Moral: If you trust the Portland police, you will pay dearly for it. There's more integrity in the Mafia.
| Posted at 10:44 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (11)
Her attorney said internal affairs assured Galvan the texts would be kept confidential, but instead they were disclosed to Kruger, via the Portland Police Commanding Officers' Union.
Well, now the question is how the union got hold of them via internal affairs? This is like the incident that spawned 10,000 lawsuits. Just about everyone seems guilty of something here.
Posted by Dave J. | February 6, 2013 10:57 AM
I wondered out loud from your first report on this how and why those texts got out? This just gets stickier and stickier.
Good luck to the mayor; not so much to the police chief.
Posted by sally | February 6, 2013 11:08 AM
Won't any claim made by Kruger result in an even deeper examination of his Nazi beliefs and history by someone defending Kuykendall?
Maybe this time we'll get to see the "memorial plaques" that Mark erected at Powell Butte in the late 1990s and clandestinely removed when a witness revealed their existence in civil litigation in 2003. At last word, those were in the hands of the City Attorney.
Posted by reader | February 6, 2013 11:09 AM
Moral: If you trust the Portland police, you will pay dearly for it.
Think about the work environment if you are one of the majority of the honest, caring, skilled cops -- that thin blue line cuts both ways.
Posted by Old Zeb | February 6, 2013 11:38 AM
"...that thin blue line cuts both ways."
Yes, it does.
The Union provides nice fat benefits. But it also puts you in 'union' with Kruger, Thumper, Bernie and all the other rotten apples in the LEO community. Police should do a better job policing their own, thereby reducing the stench in that organization. I do feel too bad for the many, many honorable police employees who get smeared by this stuff, but such is the union that they keep.
Posted by Harry | February 6, 2013 12:08 PM
Can't SOMEONE make this STOP?
Shakespearean plots, allies, whispered secrets and who said what about whom, enemies, palace coups, stabbing in the back & conflicts of interest. Well maybe more like high school than professional law enforcement.
When all offended parties are done, lawyers and plaintiffs get a bag of dough from TAXPAYERS... that did no wrong.
Wrongdoers... seem to get promoted and yet more dough and more power.
"To protect and serve" ?
Posted by ltjd | February 6, 2013 12:13 PM
What part of "rotten to the Core" did we miss?
I monitor regional Law Enforcement, and in the Yakima Valley in Washington,the feds have satellite offices because it is a main thoroughfare for gangs and drugs. The result? Almost every LE department has officers in lawsuits against each other and management. The rot and infighting is astounding. Almost as much effort against each other then directed to criminals.
Posted by TheD Man | February 6, 2013 12:22 PM
TheD Man: Why is that?
Posted by sally | February 6, 2013 1:31 PM
Won't any claim made by Kruger result in an even deeper examination of his Nazi beliefs and history by someone defending Kuykendall?
"Discovery is a b--tch," as the saying goes.
Posted by Dave J. | February 6, 2013 3:12 PM
Read Maxine's story this AM very carefully. Noe the reported activites by North Precinct Commander Mike Leloff.
Remember the name Mike Leloff. Portland will hear a lot more about him.
I sure would be interesting to chart out a detailed time line of the ascession of Mike Reese to the Chief's job (or, really ro Central Precinct Commander) and the promotion of folks like Leloff; Wyatt; Kruger, etc.
Even more enlightening would be a detailed analysis of job assignments through their entire careers for Reese; Wyatt; Kruger, and Leloff just for a start.
I hope Maxine and the Oregonian have the cojones to start looking a that angle.
Posted by Nonny Mouse | February 6, 2013 4:11 PM
All the city attorney needs to do is blowup to near life size one of those pictures of Kruger in an SS uniform, and leave it in plain view of the jury during the entire trial. If the uniform fits, you must acquit!
Posted by Drewbob | February 7, 2013 7:00 AM