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Portland Copwatch Updates List of Police Shootings for Attorney General-- 141 in Six Years
At Least Five More in 2016 Including Eastern Oregon Militant and Another Homicide Ruled "Suicide"

Last year, Portland Copwatch (PCW) sent a letter to Oregon Attorney General (AG) Ellen Rosenblum reminding her of her obligation under SB 111 (2007) to publish the names of people killed by law enforcement (PPR #65). PCW attached a spreadsheet of what was then 111 incidents involving deadly force, including people who survived the encounters. Meanwhile, we discovered 5 other incidents from 2013-2014, and added 25 incidents that occurred in 2015, sending Rosenblum a list of 141 incidents on March 8. As they did with our previous effort, the Skanner News published an interactive map showing the location of the encounters. The AG has created a list which is pending publication. The full details of what we learned can be found on our website at portlandcopwatch.org/oregon_shootings_letter0316.pdf. In short, 53% of the incidents (70) resulted in the death of the suspect; 50 agencies in 22 counties were involved; and at least 6% of the victims/targets were African Americans in a state that is 2% black.
Meanwhile, at least seven more incidents have occurred in 2016:

--On Jan. 16, Beaverton Officer Derek Vuylsteke shot and killed Adam Karjalainen, 34, who was allegedly advancing with a replica gun as police tried to arrest him on a warrant (Portland Tribune January 20).

--On January 18, Medford Sgt. Darrell Graham shot and killed Timothy Caruthers, 27, when Caruthers allegedly thrust a knife toward Graham, who had been off-duty and shopping but identified himself as an officer (KDRV-TV, February 24).

--On January 26, an as-yet-unnamed Oregon State Trooper (article) and an also unnamed FBI agent shot and killed Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, 54, after forcing his fleeing vehicle to stop on a remote highway in eastern Oregon and Finicum reached inside his coat. Finicum had been part of the armed group occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to make a political statement about publicly owned lands. The FBI agent (on their Hostage Rescue Team) probably just hit the vehicle,but did not report discharging his weapon and is under investigation (Oregonlive, March 8).

--On January 28, African American teenager Christopher Kalonji, 19, was shot and killed by Clackamas County Sgt. Tony Killinger and Deputy Lon Steinhauer after a standoff following Kalonji's reported mental health crisis. Though police say Kalonji was threatening family members with a rifle, the family denies that accusation, saying their son wanted help (Skanner, February 3). As with the death of Michael Johnson in November at the hands of the PPB (PPR #67), the medical examiner declared Kalonji's death a suicide (Oregonlive, March 4).

--On February 5, Seaside Officer David Davidson shot and killed Philip Ferry, 55, after Ferry killed Sgt. Jason Goodding as the two cops tried taking Ferry in on a warrant (Oregonian, February 17). Based on evidence caught on body cameras, the Clatsop County DA declared Davidson was "legally and morally justified" in shooting Ferry.

--On March 25, two Linn County deputies shot and wounded Brian Eller, 39, who fled on foot after a car chase south of Albany (Oregonian, March 26).

--On April 7, Washington County Sheriffs Deputies responding to Greg Howard Moore, 54, breaking out windows in Cornelius shot and wounded him when "the situation escalated rapidly" (Cornelius Police, April 8).


Check out the Skanner's interactive map of Oregon deadly force incidents at:
theskanner.com/news/northwest/23606-oregon-shootings-by-law-enforcement
.
  People's Police Report

May, 2016
Also in PPR #68

Law to Shield Cops Defeated
  Fired Cop Reinstated
  OR State Shootings--141 in 6 Years
Sheriff May Resign Due to Scandals
DOJ Board Unclear on Policy Input
Bureau Boycotts Review Board
Profiling: State Spying, CPRC Meets
More Sweeps Despite Camping Rules
Report Exposes Racist, Sexist Cops
Training Council Notes "Us v. Them"
PPB Policy Review Suspended
Updates PPR 68
  • Cop Exonerated in Mistaken ID Case
  Mayor's Race and Police Issues
  Copcams on the Horizon in Portland
Quick Flashes PPR 68
  Another PPB Pervocop Gone
  Training Facility Used for Violent Fundraiser
  Motorcyclist Kicked by Cop Wins $180K
  MN Copwathers Seek Self-Insurance for Cops
Rapping Back #68
 

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.


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