PORTLAND, OR – In the weeks and months since the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, chaos has reigned in Portland, Oregon.
Every night for over 130 nights, the city has been held under siege by the likes of Antifa, Black Lives Matter, and several other opportunistic people that want to cause chaos. Now, a recently retired officer from Portland are being charged with running over a thief.
On October 21st, the Multnomah County Grand Jury just indicted retired Portland Police Officer Scott Groshong for running over a criminal as he looted from a small business. Instead of investigating the claim, the Portland Police Association alleges that the prosecutor just believed the criminal’s claims over the officers.
The officer, Scott Groshong, faces charges of official misconduct, third-degree assault and failure to perform the duties of a driver, according to a source familiar with the investigation but not authorized to speak about it. https://t.co/Zx4nYAZGwm
— Zakir Khan (@Muzzakh) October 22, 2020
The incident occurred during one of the many nights of protests and riots when officers responded to the area and was seeking out a group of people that had been committing crimes. During this night, Groshong was working undercover in an unmarked vehicle and was tasked with finding people who were using protests as cover to commit criminal acts.
Groshong saw there was a group of people that had broken off of the rest of the protesters and began walking toward downtown businesses. He decided to investigate further and watched as this group began breaking out the windows of local businesses and looting anything they could.
Groshong, seeing a young male stealing from a small skateboarding and snowboarding shop, drove towards the group in order to document what they did on video for later prosecution. The suspect, sensing what was happening, did as all cowards do, and fled on foot from the area.
A few blocks into his flight, according to the PPA alleges that there was a witness who saw the male in question running in front of their vehicle unharmed. Continuing his flight, the male was eventually caught by officers for committing burglary and theft.
Despite video and witness evidence, the prosecutors in Multnomah County refused to prosecute the male for the burglary and theft.
Further, they turned their attention toward Groshong, who the suspect later claimed had run him over.
The PPA states:
“Instead of the suspect facing consequences for looting, this veteran police officer finds himself the target of misplaced criminal charges. Incredibly, this suspect now claims the police knowingly hit him with the undercover surveillance van when the officer drove towards him to document his criminal acts.
“That claim is false, self-serving, and runs completely counter to the independent eyewitness who observed the suspect running away from the scene of his crime. Disturbingly, the Grand Jury never heard this key eyewitness testimony that would have been material to the Grand Jury’s decision.”
The officer drove toward the man who ran from the vandalism scene- that man alleged the officer ran into him and struck him. Officer denied that occurred . Groshong retired in Aug after 27-yr career
— Maxine Bernstein (@maxoregonian) October 22, 2020
The veteran retired officer now faces charges, while the criminal he was after gets to walk.
The PPA said:
“Taking stock, a young man participated in a night of rioting and looting. He brazenly stole from a small business. An eyewitness saw the young man run from officers for several blocks, behavior that is completely inconsistent with having been hit by a police vehicle.
“Instead of holding the looter accountable, the Multnomah County District Attorney dismissed the charges against him. And instead of presenting all of the cold, hard facts, the outside prosecutor from Marion County withheld from the Grand Jury key eyewitness testimony.
“With only partial facts and falsehoods, a highly respected, honorable, retired public servant now finds himself indicted on crimes he did not commit. There is no justice when politics are injected into the criminal justice system.”
October 18, 2020
PORTLAND, OR- Civil unrest and rioting have become the new normal in Portland, Oregon. Now, instead of fighting to drive down the violence that is flooding the streets city officials are attempting to shut down policing units.
Starting on Monday, October 19 Portland City Council will begin working on the Fall Budget Monitoring Process (BMP) and local law enforcement agencies are on the chopping block.
An exclusive email given to Law Enforcement Today by sources within the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) detail the actions that the council could take to limit police.
The email, which was sent to all members of the PPB alludes to the council targeting specific policing units:
“I think most of us expect some members of Council to take steps to impose additional cuts to the Bureau’s budget during the Fall BMP. Based upon emails I have seen, I expect SERT, RRT and the Criminal Intelligence Unit to be targets during the BMP process. Until we start the BMP process, we will not know just how large the cuts could be.”
The Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT), Rapid Response Team (RRT), and Criminal Intelligence Unit all have one thing in common: they have been essential at quelling the violent rioting that has taken over Portland’s street.
Why would a city that has been overwhelmed by anarchy and violence cut direct funding from the units who aim to stop the chaos? Perhaps it is because city officials benefit from allowing criminals to run amuck.
A veteran Portland Police Officer spoke with Law Enforcement Today on the condition that we maintain their anonymity, as they are not authorized to speak publicly about the potential cuts:
“Our units have been too effective at gathering intelligence on Antifa and other extremist groups. Intel that’s saving lives of citizens and officers, mind you. Hardesty is looking to eliminate the ability of our department to proactively gather intel top stop their criminal activity.”
Portland’s politicians gain votes from allowing violent rioters to overtake the streets. Make no mistake, the budget cuts will shut down entire units, not over a lack of money, but for political gains.
A second officer spoke to LET, also on the condition of anonymity:
“To break it down simply, they want to eliminate the most important teams in the Portland police department – including what’s essentially our SWAT team, for those not familiar with policing. Make no mistake – this is how they are rapidly and secretly working to destroy the department from within.”
Portland’s City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty has already indicated a disdain towards the RRT because of it’s “impact of escalating violence and tension.”
While I believe that PPB’s use of the RRT team is problematic given its impact of escalating violence and tension, the role that Fire has played in that team since then has been to serve all Portlanders, including protesters, in the event someone is injured or becomes ill. (3/7)
— Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty (@JoAnnPDX) October 9, 2020
Hardesty is transparent in her advocacy for shutting down a critical unit for riot response. In a tweet the commissioner stated:
“My office continues to advocate for the disbanding of the RRT.”
My office continues to advocate for the disbanding of the RRT and is interested in improvements to providing medic care during protests. (6/7)
— Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty (@JoAnnPDX) October 9, 2020
If the budget for the RRT or any of the other units mentioned is slashed, or outright removed, it should come as no surprise to Portland residents.
The email then explains that three members of the City Council must vote to make the cuts. It adds that local officials are working hard to prevent the slashing of an already small budget:
“The Mayor’s Office, Chief’s Office, and the Business Services Group are doing everything we can to provide accurate information about what our units and teams do, and what the impacts of drastic cuts to our budget will do to our ability to provide safety services to the people of Portland.”
The message then delivers a hard truth to law enforcement personal, their jobs are not safe. Despite working tirelessly for their city and risking their lives every night, Portland police officers would be facing layoffs:
“I’m sure you are hearing rumors of people getting laid off. Whispers about radical changes in how we do business. I cannot give you answers about layoffs today.”
It is important to realize that the city of Portland is still facing a major crisis. Riots are still destroying businesses nightly and rioters are still loose on the streets. Now realize that, despite the city rapidly becoming a dystopian nightmare, the City Council is pushing to eliminate the very men and women who fight to restore order. Why? Because it will gain them a couple of votes in the next election cycle.
The email also outlines the lengths police leaders are going to ensure layoffs don’t happen. From delaying projects to selling off equipment local agencies are fighting tooth and nail to keep officers on the street:
“We are getting rid of phones, computers, vehicles, downsizing our building footprint, delaying projects… because we value people. When somebody asks me to spend $50,000 on remodel project or a new vehicle, all I see right now is the average cost of one employee for the rest of the fiscal year.”
The message adds that there will be “radical changes” to Portland’s way of policing:
“Are there radical changes to our policing model on the horizon? Yes, probably. We aren’t going to get more people anytime soon.”
The email ends on an ominous note, asking officers to think about what is important to them:
“Be prepared for change. Be thinking about what you think is important.”
Revealed: Portland mayor threatened to fire black police chief for not backing him on tear gas ban
The following editorial content was written by a retired police officer and current staff writer for Law Enforcement Today.
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PORTLAND, OR- The spineless mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, apparently tried to overcome his persona as a wuss back in September when he threatened Police Chief Chuck Lovell he could face discipline “up to and including termination” after Lovell publicly called out Wheeler’s ban of CS gas, according to OPB.org.
A memo from Wheeler to Lovell which was released last Thursday read:
“Your message undercut my directive and demonstrated a lack of forethought of the impact of conflicting information to the community during this volatile moment within our city. This reflects a serious lack of judgement on your part.”
Wheeler also serves as Portland’s police commissioner. The memo was sent to Lovell on Sept. 11, which was one day after he had issued a ban on CS gas, which for the uninformed is a form of tear gas. The memo was first reported by the Portland Tribune not long after Wheeler sent it.
For four months, the Portland Police Bureau endured nightly riots in the city, and police deployed the gas as an attempt to get the crowds to disperse. Back in June, Wheeler, who last we checked had ZERO law enforcement experience, restricted the use of CS gas to only those times where the riots threatened “life safety.”
Since that time, the gas has been utilized much less frequently, however even the periodic use of the agent has angered rioters, who apparently feel that they should be able to burn, vandalize, destroy, and assault unimpeded. One such group of whiners, Don’t Shoot PDX has filed a lawsuit against the city for “indiscriminate use” of the agent.
According to Wheeler, he said that his chief of staff Kristin Dennis had spoken to Lovell “at length” about the ban prior to it being publicly announced, Wheeler wrote in the memo.
That memo apparently meant little to Chief Lovell, who issued a statement which publicly rebuked Wheeler.
In essence, the police bureau statement slammed Wheeler’s order, arguing (and probably rightfully so) that such a ban on use of CS gas would likely lead to even more physical contact between the police and protesters.
They argued that instead of focusing on the actions of police, the city would be better served focusing on the demonstrators (rioters), who had been engaged in months of usually violent, sometimes peaceful protests.
“The community should be asking the rioters why they are committing violence that threatens the very lives of others nearby,” said the release. “When people gather lawfully, peacefully, there is no need for intervention by police, much less the use of CS gas.”
The memo dated Sept 11 had Wheeler telling Lovell that he was expected to follow the directive and end the use of CS gas immediately, or be at risk of losing his job.
“If you do not understand these expectations, you are responsible for notifying me immediately so I can provide clarification,” he wrote. “Any failure to abide by these expectations will result in immediate action, up to and including termination.”
For Lovell, he has only been chief since June, having replaced former chief Jami Resch, who stepped down when the riots started.
Beside the memo, Wheeler also slammed Lovell in a text sent on the same date, Sept. 11.
According to public records, Wheeler texted Lovell at 1:20 a.m. on Sept 11 after the bureau had posted a statement on their Facebook page, which accused the chief of rebelling against him.
“Chuck to post a statement on the Bureau’s official Facebook page opposing my direct order is insubordination,” Wheeler wrote in the text. “Take it down.”
Wheeler is currently fighting for his mayoral life, trailing his opponent according to polls. What makes matters worse is, according to BizPacReview, his opponent, Sarah Iannarone is a self-described member of Antifa, and was seen in a photo earlier this week wearing a skirt with images of Communist dictators.
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