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Hunzeker Fired for Info Leak on Commissioner,
But Will It Last?
Case Results in Discipline for Two Other Officers

Almost a full year after the Portland Police Bureau began looking into who gave out unsubstantiated information regarding a hit-and-run car crash, Mayor Wheeler overruled a lower proposed discipline by Chief Chuck Lovell and fired Officer Brian Hunzeker. Hunzeker, former President of the Portland Police Association (PPA, the police "union"), had stepped down due to what was described as a one-time mistake. That "mistake" was deliberately sending a police report which accused Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty of being the driver of the offending vehicle to the media (specifically, to the Oregonian). Hardesty was cleared a day later. The Willamette Week, which devoted an ongoing column to following the case, quotes Wheeler's letter of termination saying Hunzeker leaked the report to get back at Hardesty for accusing officers of setting fire to the PPA building during protests in 2020 (March 2). Hardesty had walked back that comment, but apparently it was still bugging Hunzeker in early 2021. Lovell proposed 12 weeks off without pay, stronger discipline than recommended by the secretive Police Review Board, who had only asked for two weeks off without pay (OPB, March 1). It's likely the PPA will appeal the firing and, based on the lower levels of discipline proposed before the Mayor intervened, they might just win.

In addition, Officer Kerri Ottoman was found to have inappropriately leaked the information to a conservative advocacy group and Ken Le shared it with someone in Portland's 911 call center. They received one day off without pay and a Letter of Reprimand, respectively. Three people working for 911 were previously disciplined (PPR #84).

Curiously, the Hunzeker finding had to do with dissemination of information (in addition to retaliation), but it would seem giving out a police report about an incident which hadn't been vetted yet should be against the law as well. There is no indication Hunzeker is being prosecuted for his action.

May, 2022
Also in PPR #86

Portland Copwatch
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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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