Oregon Court of Appeals Rules Portland Must Rehire Ron Frashour, Police Officer Who Fatally Shot Aaron Campbell

Mayor Charlie Hales says the city will comply with the order and rehire Frashour.

By Lisa Dunn

The Oregon Court of Appeals has ordered the city of Portland to rehire Ron Frashour, the Portland police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man named Aaron Campbell in 2010.

Frashour shot the 25-year-old Campbell in the back on Jan. 29, 2010, after a 911 caller reported he was armed and suicidal.

The Portland Police Bureau placed Frashour on leave in August 2010 and fired him that November—leading to a yearslong court battle.

Mayor Charlie Hales says the city will comply with the order and rehire Frashour.

"I am disappointed the court blocked the city's efforts to terminate an officer who used force inappropriately," Hales said in a statement.

In February 2010, WW ran a cover story on the shooting of Campbell, after a grand jury decided not to indict Frashour.

WW reporter James Pitkin recited "the painfully familiar facts" of the killing.

Willamette Week

Explore more on:

Aaron CampbellOregon Court of Appealsportland police bureauRon Frashour

Lisa Dunn

Lisa Dunn

News writer Lisa Dunn covers everything from local politics to weird events going on in and around Portland for Willamette Week. She is a second year student in the MFA Creative Nonfiction program at Portland State, and she writes about books and literature for the Portland State Vanguard and for her personal site OJ and Toothpaste. @lisadunnpdx

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

Help us dig deeper.

Support