|
|
Site NavigationHomeAbout us People's Police Report Shootings & deaths Cool links Other Information Contact info Donate
|
Only One Portland Police Shooting since December Other incidents include wounded Deputy, Sheriff's gun used by child to shoot sister So far this year, Portland Police have shot and wounded only one person in a deadly force incident. There have also been incidents involving "less lethal" devices like Tasers, "bean bag" guns and pepper spray, any of which could have deadly consequences. A man who was seen running around Portland's East Side Industrial District with a sharp object was shot by officers Craig Mendenhall (#32939) and Paul Park (#29512) on March 2. Police spokesperson Henry Groepper claimed that the officers on the scene called for "less lethal" weapons but they fired numerous shots at 28-year-old Steffen Wesley Redincer before those weapons could arrive (Associated Press, March 3). Redincer was put in the hospital in critical condition. Since he was described in the papers as a "transient," he may not have any family to follow up on his condition. The media frequently fails to do so in police shooting cases, so Redincer's current condition is unknown. In Clackamas County, Sheriff's Deputy Sergeant and spokesperson Damon Coates was shot in the head by a 15-year-old suspect he was taking in for a mental evaluation. The teen, Nick Teixeira, was shot in the chest and arm after he shot Coates (although it is unclear whether that officer was Mark Fresh, Christopher Cheek, Steven Van Metre or Bryan Lavigne-Oregonian, January 12). Coates was well-liked in the community and has received enormous public attention. At PPR press time, he was recovering well. It is refreshing to hear his family express their willingness to forgive Teixeira in a world full of revenge-filled state policies and media coverage. We wish both men quick recoveries and hope they can find ways to reduce violence and tensions between citizens and police without abridging civil liberties. In a semi-related story, Clark County Sheriff's Sergeant Craig Randall lost his daughter in January when his 13-year-old son found Randall's loaded gun on a shelf. The death of Emilee Joy Randall, 10, provoked the Oregonian to editorialize that "Law enforcement can lead by example [and] spearhead laws in Oregon and Washington for safer gun storage" (January 19). In short, they can stop leaving loaded guns lying around for children to find. Death in high speed chase fails to provoke change On October 31, 32-year-old Kendrick Cole died in a crash in North Portland as he was being chased by officers. The November 1 Portland Tribune reports that he "was thrown from his car after it skidded off the road and struck several perked vehicles." The article indicates that the chase began with an Oregon State Police officer noticing Cole speeding and that he lost control of his car about 40 blocks away. There have been numerous high-speed deaths in Oregon (see PPR #14 for some examples), yet policies vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction about the appropriateness of engaging in such chases. Meanwhile, the Oregonian reported (January 31) that the Portland Police Bureau averaged a total of 22 on-duty car crashes per month in 2002. Chief Kroeker instituted a "Safe Driver" award for those officers who do not get distracted at low speeds or otherwise get into avoidable accidents. For national information contact Solutions to Tragedies of Police Pursuits, STOPP -- P.O. Box 25217 -- Jackson, WY 83001 -- 307-734-0002 [noted 2022: STOPP no longer active] Hammick Vigil Draws a Crowd On February 22, exactly one year after Portland Police shot and killed Byron Hammick, Hammick's family and friends held a candle-light vigil to continue their call for justice. They remembered "Bumper" in song, story and pictures. About 40 people braved cold and wind along SE Powell Blvd, with occiasional horn honks of support from passers-by. There was no police presence. As reported in PPR #28, both officers involved in shooting Hammick (Stephen Mosier and Christopher Gilbert) received the "Police Medal," the same award given to the men who shot José Mejía. Officer Paul Jensen, who was trying to get to the scene with a "less lethal" shotgun when Hammick was killed, ironically received a "Life Saving Medal" for this incident. Browne awarded $200,000 Bruce Browne, who was shot in July, 2001 by Portland Police who mistook him for the armed robber he had just disarmed (see PPRs #25 & 27), accepted a $200,000 out-of-court settlement from City Council on March 12 (Portland Observer, March 19). |
May, 2003
|
|
Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#29 Table of Contents
|