Sheriffs say they won't help governor's plan to stop Portland protest violence

[FBaggins]

CLACKAMAS, Ore. – The sheriffs of Clackamas and Washington County say they will not send staff to help with protests in Portland after Oregon Governor Kate Brown unveiled a plan to address the violence at protests. The plan called on several local law enforcement agencies to help, including the sheriff's offices of Washington and Clackamas counties.

Clackamas Co. Sheriff Craig Roberts said the governor didn’t approach his office before rolling out the plan, intended to address the violence and arson while also protecting free speech.

“Increasing law enforcement resources in Portland will not solve the nightly violence and now, murder,” the sheriff said. “The only way to make Portland safe again, is to support a policy that holds offenders accountable for their destruction and violence.”

Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett cited several risks that led to the decision, including "the lack of political support for public safety, the uncertain legal landscape, the current volatility combined with intense scrutiny on use of force."


https://katu.com/news/local/clackamas-co-wont-help-governors-plan-to-stop-portland-protest-violence-sheriff-says

Stunning. So much for "we all must come together ... to stop the cycle of violence"

[ExciteBike66]

1. Sheriff says the protestors need to be held accountable, but that apparently

doesn't include sending officers to arrest them?

[FBaggins]

2. My thoughts as well

I also would have assumed that most states governors have emergency powers sufficient to tell sheriffs what to do.

[MyOwnPeace]

3. AND.......

the government has the power to fire those who won't do their job.......

[FBaggins]

4. I doubt that

Sheriffs are elected positions in Oregon.

[In It to Win It]

8. Sheriffs are also elected positions in Florida

The governor can suspend, remove and replace the Sheriffs here.

I’m not sure if Oregon law permits that but my point is that it could be possible that the governor may be permitted to do it if Oregon law allows. I looked it up but I didn’t find anything that says the governor can or can’t do that but perhaps someone could shed some light.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

16. Sheriffs are elected in most places.

[MyOwnPeace]

18. But surely sheriffs have to be accountable to SOMEBODY....

and not immune to oversight like BunkerBoy claims to be!

[ProfessorGAC]

19. Here In Illinois...

...the county board can terminate a sheriff with a supermajority vote, subject to appellate review.
They need cause, and I didn't read the whole law, so I don't know what actions constitute cause.

[FBaggins]

5. Interesting reference to a statewide Sheriff/Chief of Police statement

To me, it translates to "you need to start saying nice things about us publicly if you want our help"

https://flashalert.net/id/CCSO/137434

[MichMan]

9. Prosecutors also need to follow up arrests with charges when appropriate

He might be referring to the alleged shooter who killed the Prayer Patriot guy. He was arrested last month for another incident, and released with no charges filed.

[hack89]

10. If the DA won't charge them then what's the point?

That is the issue here - the sheriff wants a commitment to charge protestors.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. How about to keep the peace and quell violence.

You know, their jobs.

Many of the arrests made in the heat of it are not going to be substantiated. The prosecutors don’t have the man power. But snatching people legitimately breaking laws and causing violence will go a long way to keep the peace.

[Reader Rabbit]

6. Would it be different if the order came from a male governor?

Racism and authoritarian mindset go hand in hand with misogyny. Pretty likely that these guys have issues taking orders from a woman.

[Flo Mingo]

7. IOW

"We need you to do us a favor, though."

[KWR65]

11. The sheriiffs are right. Multnomah county is not prosecuting people that are arrested.

There is no reason to arrest someone breaking the law if they are not going to be prosecuted. Why should the police waste their money and manpower for a useless exercise of catch and release?

[gratuitous]

20. That's not entirely true

The new District Attorney has decided that the penny ante charges* leveled against most of the arrestees aren't worth prosecuting, especially when the charges are dropped because there aren't any witnesses. Law enforcement has successfully squandered their credibility in the city, and now they're all butt-hurt that nobody trusts them, including many of their brother and sister officers.

It's just possible that Portland will have to try resolving this situation without clubbing down a bunch of citizens in the streets for the crime of asking that they not be clubbed down in the streets.

*Including but not limited to Failure to Disperse (quickly enough to suit some short-tempered cop), Disorderly Conduct (for looking sideways at some short-tempered cop), Interference with a Police Officer (by bending the short-tempered cop's baton when he cracked the demonstrator's skull), and so forth.

[Johnny2X2X]

12. $$$$

Governor controls the purse strings, these sheriffs get part of their budget from the state normally. Withhold every penny until they do their jobs.

[Fullduplexxx]

14. Protect and serve

And we shouldnt defund the police ?

[ScratchCat]

17. The only people who can stop the violence

Are those who are committing it. This isn't difficult, folks. Its time to go home.