Bill to Protect Officer Who Killed LaVoy Finicum "Probably Not Going Anywhere"

HB 4087 is unlikely to leave the Senate before the end of the legislative session.

By Peter D’Auria

The public may learn who killed LaVoy Finicum sooner than expected.

Oregon's House Bill 4087, which would allow law enforcement officers who used deadly force to keep their identities secret, is unlikely to leave the Senate.

"It's probably not going anywhere," Rick Osborn, spokesman for the Senate Democrats, tells WW.

Introduced after militant LaVoy Finicum's fatal shooting by an Oregon State Police officer, HB 4807 would allow police officers facing a "credible threat of present danger" to delay release of personal information for 90 days, with possible extensions in the case of a continuing threat.

Law enforcement watchdogs have warned it's a major step back in transparency after shootings by police—agencies would be allowed to request multiple 90-day extensions of the deadline to release an officer's name.

WW examined the bill Wednesday. The Oregonian broke news of its likely demise Thursday.

The bill passed the House on Feb. 17 by a 55-3 vote, but has since languished in the Senate Committee on Rules.

Osborn says the bill's fate is not sealed, but its passage into law before the end of the Senate session tomorrow is unlikely. "It hasn't been scheduled right now," he tells WW.

"That's not a hard no, but it's not looking too positive."

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