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No Love Lost

Portland Police Chief Mark Kroeker resigned today. It's hard to say which issue drove him out: Was it the constant tendency of the police force to turn every demonstration into a tear gas and rubber bullets confrontation? Was it the shooting of an unarmed black motorist? Or the shooting of a mentally challenged hispanic patient? Or perhaps the outrageously anti-gay and pro-child abuse statements he made ten years ago while still working for the LAPD (a fine, fine, fine organization) that he never disavowed?

Actually, the issue may be internal police reform. Prior to the resignation, the Portland Tribune reported that a no confidence vote was to be held by the police union because officers have been upset with Kroeker's treatment of two cops involved in the above mentioned shootings.

"He (Kroeker) didn't come out and support us adamantly," the officer said. "Once the investigation's concluded, you need to come out and say, 'This was not wrong.'"
The officer said the James shooting was the last straw: "When they announced McCollister's suspension (after the shooting), that's when people blew gaskets. They just went nuts."

Which tells me that Kroeker's resignation is no insta-panacea. Anyone remember Charles Moose's tenure? Before he found fame for his sympathetic and competent handling of the sniper shootings last year, Moose ran Portland's police bureau so badly his Northeast Portland neighbors staged demonstrations outside his house. In 1998 I remember a strange spate of cases in which uncooperative arrestees were hog-tied, choke-held and pepper sprayed by arresting officers and subsequently died. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of some of the victims. So much bad water has flowed under the bridge since then, sad to say.

Still, I can't help but find amusement in seeing that Kroeker has some fans.

Posted by kevinmoore at August 29, 2003 05:46 PM | TrackBack