Last week I wrote the Oregon Attorney General's office asking that they investigate the Portland City Attorney's office for withholding information that a Portland Police officer - under investigation for excessive use of force - had created public memorials to Nazi SS troops in a Portland park. As The Oregonian reported today, the attorney general's office wrote back today and suggested that I file a complaint with the Oregon State Bar, which investigates professional misconduct among attorneys. I will follow-up with the Bar.
However, my intention is to work with other faith leaders in Portland to ask the AG to demonstrate his outspoken commitment to civil rights by engaging directly in these issues. As the Chasse case illustrates, these incidents are not isolated but are part of a pattern of deception that place the civil rights and safety of all Portlanders in jeopardy. We face a crisis of leadership and my hope is that the AG will eventually step in to help fill that void. Oregon Attorney General John Kroger has promised to be a fierce defender of civil rights.
Just yesterday I met with leaders of Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA) to talk about a coordinated response to these matters from Portland's faith community. AMA has already called on the state's AG office to establish a special prosecutor to deal with legal issues that arise when a police officer kills a civilian in the line of duty or is accused of excessive force. Clearly, the system as now designed does not work.
I will continue to work in partnership with other concerned Portlanders on these critical issues of accountability.
