News Before nightfall of his first day as Portland's new self-appointed police commissioner, Mayor Sam Adams got his first challenge in the form of a fatal police shooting — the third in less than five months this year. Many details about this shooting will emerge in the coming days as they did with the deaths of Aaron Campbell and Jackie Collins. New police chief Mike Reese —appointed ...   More

News The person everyone wants to hear from, following this morning's major police shakeup, is Commissioner Dan Saltzman. But Saltzman wasn't at City Hall after Mayor Sam Adams announced at noon he was both taking over the Police Bureau (16 months after taking the unusual step for a mayor of assigning it to Saltzman) and firing Chief Rosie Sizer. Meanwhile, one of Saltzman's main opponents in the ...   More

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News Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer and Mayor Sam Adams have released statements this afternoon on the city's $1.6 million settlement with the family of James Chasse Jr. Sizer says she is "relieved" by the settlement. Here's what else she had to say: Nearly four years ago, James Chasse died in the custody of Portland Police officers. I and members of my organization felt horrible about his death. ...   More

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News The woman who's accusing Al Gore of trying to sexually assault her in a downtown Portland hotel in 2006 is quoted in the National Enquirer's follow-up story this week of wanting police to launch a full investigation. The tabloid promises that its story this week will have the masseuse, 54-year-old Molly Hagerty, revealing "the key witness who could blow the case wide open, the secret hotel video ...   More

News A tragic episode that spanned one hour and 46 minutes on Sept. 17, 2006, came to a close almost four years later at City Hall this morning. Commissioners today officially approved Portland's $1.6 million settlement with the estate of James Chasse. Following the 4-0 vote (Commissioner Dan Saltzman was absent due to illness) in council chambers, the Chasse family issued what is to be their only ...   More

News The city auditor's office today released (PDF) the results of an outside expert's investigation into why it took more than three years for Portland police to finish their investigation into the death of James Chasse Jr. in police custody. While the report notes that the Police Bureau has made changes since 2006 and has "comparatively excellent processes for investigating and reviewing critical ...   More

News At 85 degrees, it was a hot day for a rally today in downtown Portland to demonstrate for change in the Police Bureau. But the crowd was anything but heated as they demonstrated peacefully and held up signs that said things like "Justice" and "Standing on the Side of Love." The Albina Ministerial Alliance coalition for Justice and Police Reform organized the Pioneer Square event to maintain pressure ...   More

News Portland Police Capt. Mark Kruger, whose interest in Nazi memorabilia first surfaced in 2003, has found himself back in the news. The Oregonian reported last week that the Portland Police Performance Review Board has determined Kruger brought "discredit upon the (police) bureau and the city" by erecting plaques as part of a Nazi memorial in Rocky Butte Park sometime between 1999 and 2001. And ...   More