Saltzman to Grand Jury in Campbell Shooting: 'Immediate Action'

City Commissioner Dan Saltzman just issued a letter to the grand jurors who yesterday strongly criticized the Portland Police Bureau's actions leading up to the fatal shooting Jan. 29 shooting of Aaron Campbell.

Saltzman's letter (PDF) tells grand jurors he shares their concerns and vows "immediate action," including a full review of the bureau's training on handling people in crisis "utilizing outside experts."

Saltzman, who's seeking a fourth term this May, also says he'll ask the City Council to fund a new program partnering police with mental-health workers.

Saltzman thanks the grand jurors for their "thoughtful letter" in which they blasted the police bureau Saltzman oversees. The grand jury found Officer Ronald Frashour likely did not break the law, but they called out the police bureau for botching its call to aid the suicidal man, killing him instead.

Saltzman's letter follows a far more tepid response to the grand jury yesterday from Chief Rosie Sizer, who thanked the jurors for their "commitment" to the city's review process.