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Reflecting National Trend, Police Shootings Remain Steady in Oregon Since the last issue of the People's Police Report went to press on April 20, there have been at least eight more deadly force incidents involving law enforcement in Oregon, bringing the total in 2017 to 14 and indicating the final tally could once again be about 25 this year. This matches national data compiled by the Washington Post, which showed on July 1 that roughly the same number of people were killed in the first six months this year (492) as in the same time frame of 2015 and 2016. Aside from the two incidents in Portland (article), here are the six other shootings we know about: --On July 18, Robert Earl Vaughan, 70, was shot and killed by Springfield Sgt. David Lewis, Sgt. Brian Humphreys, and Officer Ryan Stone after he barricaded himself in his home and "presented a threat" following neighbors reporting him shooting out street lights (Eugene Register-Guard, July 19 and July 28). --On July 3, Hillsboro Police Officer Melvin Ambrose shot and killed Holden Austin Gorka, 25, after he allegedly jumped a fence at the Hillsboro Airport and tried to commandeer a helicopter at gunpoint (Oregonian, July 7). --On June 24, nine* officers from the Lane and Douglas County Sheriff's Officers (including Sgt. Jason Wilson) and the Florence Police Department chased after Cameron Ollman, 37, ultimately killing him in what is described as a "shootout" (Eugene Register-Guard, June 29 & July 8). --On April 24, Oregon State Police Trooper Thomas Erhard shot and killed Jacy McManus, 35, in Wolf Creek when McManus (a suspect in an attempted murder) allegedly took out a "tire punch (stabbing tool) with a 3 inch blade that came to a pointed tip," and a Taser and pepper spray failed to subdue McManus (KDRV, May 24). --On April 21, an unamed** Washington County Sheriff's Sergeant shot at a juvenile suspect who allegedly tried to hit the officer with a car; the suspect escaped (Oregonlive, April 21). --Also on April 21, West Linn Officer Brad Moyle shot and killed Chance Ricky Thompson, 25, when Thompson was allegedly threatening suicide with a gun. Even though Moyle killed Thompson, the Medical Examiner declared the death to be a suicide (Oregonian, April 29) -- as they did with Christopher Kalonji (PPR #68) and Michael Johnson (PPR #67). In addition, the FBI agent who shot at LaVoy Finicum in January 2016 (PPR #68), was indicted in June for "making a false statement with intent to obstruct justice" because he failed to report firing his weapon (Oregonian, June 28). *The article actually lists ten officers' names, it is unclear why. **-The Sheriff's Office asked us to file a formal request to get the name. |
September, 2017
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People's Police Report
#72 Table of Contents
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