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Multnomah Deputies Indicted in Jail Deaths,
Off Duty Argument

Surprisingly, the Multnomah County District Attorney issued indictments against two deputies involved in two of the ten deaths that have occurred in Multnomah County Jails in 2022-23. The December announcement that the Deputies had apparently committed official misconduct by neglecting the needs of the inmates signaled that perhaps new Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell may in fact be taking things more seriously than her predecessors.

[KGW-TV8 Dec 7th article] Morrisey O'Donnell made it seem as if she were downplaying the role of her corrections employees by indicating that many of the deaths were caused by drug overdoses. It turns out that only three of them have been confirmed as drug-related. Three died by suicide and three of natural causes. The tenth is still under investigation (Willamette Week, December 11).

Meanwhile, Deputy Mark Farmer was also indicted for an off-duty incident in which he attacked a neighbor for having a close relationship with Farmer's wife (Oregonlive, November 13). The argument happened in Washington State, where many Portland law enforcement officers live. The news articles about the incident missed a salient fact: That Farmer was involved in the non-fatal shooting of Randy Gattman in 2021 (PPR #83).

Advisory Board for Sheriffs Down to One Person

On October 17, Willamette Week reported that the Sheriff's Office Community Advisory Committee was down to just one member. It's not clear whether there is an issue with the County Commission, which appoints the members or if Sheriff Morrisey O'Donnell is just not interested.

  [People's Police Report]

January, 2024
Also in PPR #91

• Community Oversight Plan Dismantled by City
• DOJ Agreement 1/2 Terminated, Court Monitor OKd
• Police Violence Costs the City Another $371,000+
 • "Union" Pays Former Commissioner $680K for False Claims
• PPB Kills Third Person in 2023
 • Man in Mental Health Crisis Dies in Milwaukie Cops' Custody
• State Police Deadly Force Down from 42 to 30+
 • More News: D.Clark, DEA/Qualified Immunity, CW Graphic
• Review Committee Loses Five Members, Gains One
• IPR Annual Report Adds Some Detail, Omits Others
• Criminalization of Homelessness on Hold
• Medford Police Continue Spying on Activists
 • Mohammed Mohamud Loses Appeal Bid
• Chief Lovell Steps Down, Bob Day Takes Over
• Deputies Indicted: Jail Deaths, Off-Duty Fight
• Profiling Data Discussed at Two Public Meetings
• Training Council Delays Force Data Presentations
• Car Crashes Spotlit in Comments on Police Policies
• State Discipline Rules Updated at Iffy Meetings
• Still No Deadly Force in Review Board Report
• Updates PPR #91:
 • Council Approves Body Cameras as Pilot Ends Without Data
 • Drone Use Slowly Creeping Up Month by Month
• Rapping Back #91
  

Portland Copwatch
PO Box 42456
Portland, OR 97242
(503) 236-3065/ Incident Report Line (503) 321-5120
e-mail: copwatch@portlandcopwatch.org

Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.

People's Police Report #91 Table of Contents
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