PORTLAND, OR– On Thursday, September 10th, after months of scrutiny over the use of teargas on protesters, Mayor Ted Wheeler announced that he was ordering Portland Police officer to no longer use teargas as a means of crowd control.
Just six hours later, the bureau issued a press release of its own, saying it “needs” CS gas, otherwise known as teargas, to avoid more serious injuries.
It also went on to say that the gas isn’t used for crowd control at all; rather it “is being used to disperse crowds only when there is a life safety event.”
Portland Police Bureau Statement (in response to Portland’s ban on use of teargas during riots):
Portland Police Bureau needs tools to protect community and themselves during riots that endanger life safety https://t.co/qm6TfqySlQ
— Jewhadi™ (@JewhadiTM) September 12, 2020
Wheeler, who clearly felt as though he was being undermined, called the statement a ‘serious breach of protocol.’
According to The Portland Tribune, Wheeler also has demanded a “communications plan” from the bureau as well as a plan to manage an upcoming Saturday, Sept. 26, demonstration planned by right-wing activists.
The Mayor was not going to take this lightly, and in an email to Lovell and his assistant chiefs the next day, he wrote:
“While I do not often issue directives to the Portland Police Bureau, when I do I expect them to be followed. Civilian oversight of the Police Bureau is set in the Portland City Charter, and every sworn officer takes an oath to abide by that charter. Professionalism and public service demand nothing less.”
Ted Wheeler: “While I do not often issue directives to the Portland Police Bureau, when I do I expect them to be followed.”
Newly obtained email from @tedwheeler to police @ChiefCLovell shows vindictive, nasty side of mayor. https://t.co/gYRpS98bNv
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) September 17, 2020
If that doesn’t sound like someone with a bruised ego, I don’t know what does.
When asked for comment on the feud between the Mayor and the Department, a spokesman for the bureau denied any insubordination, saying Lovell has made clear:
“The mayor is the police commissioner and the Police Bureau will be responsive to and follow the mayor’s direction.”
Wheeler, through his staff, also issued a statement, saying:
“PPB’s decision to put out a press release questioning my direction was a serious breach of protocol and an inappropriate use of City communications resources. I made it clear, in no uncertain terms, to the Chief that this cannot happen again.”
Wheeler then added:
“The Chief took responsibility for that decision. He affirmed that there was never any intention of disobeying the directive.”
He finally said:
“Chief Lovell and I are committed to working together as we have conversations with the community about how we provide public safety services in Portland.”
Wheeler’s ban on teargas comes as no surprise, since he himself was gassed back in July, at a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Portland.
Despite the fact that police officers maintain they only use teargas when absolutely necessary, Wheeler still wanted to abolish its use.
This might have something to do with the fact that Wheeler is up for re-election in November, and is facing backlash from protesters for not taking a strong enough stance on CS gas.
In a true display of playground teasing, protesters have dubbed him “teargas Ted”, in hopes it would push him to ban its use due to embarrassment…it worked.
VIDEO: Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is teargassed on the front line of a demonstration against the use of federal agents to crackdown on protests.
Wheeler has demanded the withdrawal of federal officers from the US city, accusing them of dangerously escalating the situation pic.twitter.com/zVppSm5TEt
— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 23, 2020
The use of teargas was also just banned in Detroit.
DETROIT, MI– A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order barring Detroit police officers from using several tactics and and equipment including batons, shields, less-than lethal munitions, and loud speakers against “peaceful” protestors for 14 days.
UNBELIEVABLE! Antifa friendly FEDERAL JUDGE👇👇
Judge sides with Detroit Will Breathe, temporarily barring some Detroit police crowd control tactics https://t.co/FKIxdFN502— Tami G (@greenpyrs) September 5, 2020
According to reports, the request came from a protest group called, “Detroit Will Breathe”. The group filed the lawsuit alleging that Detroit police officers have used “unnecessary, unreasonable, and excessive force and have violated members constitutional rights.”
Detroit Police Chief James Craig responded to the order by U.S. District Judge Laurie J. Michelson by saying his officers have only used force when protesters were not peaceful and that this ruling will not change how the department continues to handle demonstrations.
A judge has temporarily barred Detroit police from using certain tactics against protesters. https://t.co/2Ys20akP3U
— Local 4 WDIV Detroit (@Local4News) September 5, 2020
In response to the filed lawsuit, City attorney Lawrence Garcia said that he welcomed the suit because it will allow the City to file a counter-suit. Chief Craig said in a statement:
“We’re going to continue to do our jobs the way we’ve done it. We respect peaceful protesters. We understand the judge’s order and we’ll make sure the protesters understand if there’s any aggression or violation of law, they will get ample notice like we’ve done in the past.”
Sure hope the people of Detroit have the means to protect themselves for the next two weeks. 🥺 #SMH #DemocratsDestroyEverything Detroit police face temporary ban on batons, other anti-protest gear: judgehttps://t.co/Aw1Lkdehg1
— Lisa Matassa (@Lisa_Matassa) September 5, 2020
According to the response from Judge Michelson:
“For a period of 14 days, to be extended upon showing of good cause, but not beyond 28 days absent consent by the City of Detroit, including the Detroit Police Department is enjoined from:
Using striking weapons (including, but not limited to, batons and shields), chemical agents (including, but not limited to tear gas and pepper spray), or rubber bullets against any individual peacefully engaging in protest or demonstrations who does not pose a physical threat to the safety of the public or police;
Deploying chemical agents or a sound cannon against persons peacefully engaging in protest or demonstrations without an audible warning and a reasonable amount of time to disperse;
Placing a carotid hold or ramming with a vehicle any individual attending a demonstration;
Tightening the zip ties or handcuffs placed on any individual to the point that the restraints cause physical injury, including loss of circulation or change in color and;
Arresting any demonstrators en masse without probable cause.”
https://twitter.com/DetTitanUp/status/1302232524836474881
The 12-page order also said:
“In the event that Plaintiffs seek relief for an alleged violation of this order, the City must respond to the motion for relief within 24 hours.”
Detroit bans riot gear and other equipment/tools for the police? Oh, it’s for the peaceful protests…they are all “mostly peaceful” even when they are burning the infrastructures and actual structures to the ground…I can only imagine the fear in Detroit’s decent citizens.
— Tony Thomas (@TonyVanMan) September 5, 2020
Chief Craig responded by saying:
“The judge’s order is no different than what we’ve always done. Every time we’ve had to use less-than lethal force, it’s been to address violence by protesters, resisting arrest, or when they’ve tried to take over an intersection in violation of the law. Technically, nothing has changed.”
Judge Michelson also wrote in the order:
“The Court recognizes that police officers are often faced with dangerous and rapidly evolving situations while trying to enforce the law and maintain the safety of the public. It is important that police officers have non-lethal options to use to protect themselves and the public when necessary.”
@detroitpolice have been BANNED from crowd control by an antifa friendly federal judge!!!
What about the citizens??https://t.co/FKIxdFN502— Tami G (@greenpyrs) September 5, 2020
Chief Craig responded:
“This just reinforces our policy. We don’t use force against peaceful protesters. In fact, we’ve allowed them to take over all lanes of streets, when technically, we didn’t have to do that because they didn’t have permits, but we want them to be able to express themselves, so we allowed it.”
Chief Craig referenced back to the lawsuit brought forth by “Detroit Will Breathe” as the group claims their suit focused in part on an August 22nd specific incident. Craig said that specific protest was not peaceful. He said:
“When they try to take over an area like they did in Seattle, that’s not going to happen.”
Craig reiterated that nothing in the order bars his officers from arresting protestors who do not comply with orders to disperse when they’re blocking intersections or from using force against those who resist arrest. He said:
“If someone is resisting arrest or trying to attack our officers, we will use the force that’s both reasonable and necessary to overcome the resistance. We don’t want the protesters injured and we don’t want officers injured either.”
This should help to turn Detroit into Portland. They don’t care about the safety of Detroit citizens or our police department.
— thomas torgerson (@tomltorger) September 5, 2020
Chief Craig also said that he has ordered each protest to be videotaped. He said:
“We’ve been doing that, long before this order. We want to document everything. When we give orders to disperse when people are blocking an intersection and they refuse repeated orders, we want all that documented when we make arrests.”
——
Want to make sure you never miss a story from Law Enforcement Today? With so much “stuff” happening in the world on social media, it’s easy for things to get lost.
Make sure you click “following” and then click “see first” so you don’t miss a thing! (See image below.) Thanks for being a part of the LET family!
