Police Union Plans No-Confidence Vote on Saltzman and Sizer

The Portland Police Association today announced plans to hold a no-confidence vote next week on Police Commissioner Dan Saltzman and Chief Rosie Sizer after the two leaders yesterday disciplined Officer Chris Humphreys.

The union board representing rank-and-file officers today unanimously agreed to put the no-confidence vote to its 900 members, according to a news release (PDF).

"Leadership of the Police Bureau at the hands of Commissioner Dan Saltzman and Chief Sizer has failed Officer Chris Humphreys and our entire membership," the news release quotes Sgt. Scott Westerman (see photo), the union president, as saying.

"The events of the last few weeks have shown that Dan Saltzman cares more about politics than he does for the lives and families of police officers," the Westerman quote continues. "Likewise, Chief Sizer's failure to stand by the officers of this bureau when they have done absolutely nothing wrong and are being used as political pawns is deplorable."

Humphreys was involved in a Nov. 14 incident on an East Portland MAX platform where Humphreys shot a 12-year-old girl with a beanbag gun. The girl was resisting arrest and tussling with another officer, Aaron Dauchy.

The cops also plan a rally to support Humphreys and collect ballots in the no-confidence vote on Tuesday, according to the news release. The date and time of the rally will be announced Monday.

Rather than listing the PPA office as a contact, the news release gives a phone number for Shannon Berg with Gallatin Public Affairs, a PR firm the union hired earlier this fall. For what it's worth, the firm's roster includes former Mayor Vera Katz.