Portland Mayor, With Little Explanation, Places Police Chief on Paid Leave

The mayor’s office says Police Chief Mike Marshman and Adjutant Lieutenant Michael Leasure are both the subjects of an Independent Police Review investigation, and have been transferred to the personnel division.

Portland Police Chief Mike Marshman (KATU-TV)

Mayor Ted Wheeler has suddenly and with little explanation placed the Portland Police chief on paid leave.

The mayor's office says Police Chief Mike Marshman and Adjutant Lieutenant Michael Leasure are both the subjects of an Independent Police Review investigation, and have been transferred to the personnel division.

The announcement by the mayor offered few clues and came hours after most government employees and media had gone home for the weekend. The only explanation offered was that the mayor learned of the IPR investigation on Thursday night.

The mayor has also been dealing with a cadre of protesters living on his front lawn. His spokesman says he hasn't slept in two days.

Related: Protests outside mayor's house force him to stay in a hotel.

In an announcement released shortly before 6 pm this evening, Wheeler's office said the mayor had gone on a trip with his family and would not take questions.

Marshman was named Portland Police Chief last year, after the resignation of former Chief Larry O'Dea following his shooting a friend on a hunting trip.

Here's is the full announcement.

Today, Police Chief Mike Marshman and Adjutant Lieutenant Michael Leasure were placed on paid administrative leave and reassigned to the Personnel Division, pending the conclusion of an investigation by the Independent Police Review. The Mayor was informed of the investigation by IPR at the close of business Thursday, and his office spent the day Friday working through administrative details related to this action.
 
The nature of the investigation will not be released at this time. It is the Mayor's hope that the investigation will be expedited and that this matter will be resolved quickly. Both Chief Marshman and Lieutenant Leasure have the right to due process and are assumed to be innocent of any wrongdoing while the investigation is underway. The Mayor has appointed Assistant Chief Chris Davis as Acting Police Chief until further notice.

Background for media: Mayor Wheeler and his family are travelling this weekend, and his office will not be providing additional comment at this time.

UPDATE, 6:45 pm March 25: The Oregonian quotes Independent Police Review director Constantin Severe as saying the Marshman investigation relates to an internal bureau matter, not conduct toward the public. (Activists have been calling for Marshman's firing for weeks, after several violent arrests at downtown protests.)

Meanwhile, Marshman has issued a statement.

"The day I was sworn in as Chief, I made a commitment to establishing internal legitimacy and restoring trust, both within our organization and with the community we serve. Part of that commitment is respecting the investigative processes we have in place to ensure accountability at all levels of the organization. These processes apply to me as much as they do to every member of the Bureau. Regardless of rank, everyone should be accountable and it starts with me.

"I look forward to the completion of this process and am committed to full transparency so that everyone has access to the facts.

"I'm very proud of the work Portland Police Bureau members do every day to keep our community safe and they continue to have my full support."

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.