Oregon police to leave downtown Portland after DA declines to prosecute most protest-related crimes

[dcsports]

Oregon State Police announced they will pull out of downtown Portland where nightly protests have continued for weeks, sometimes devolving into late-night clashes with law enforcement. The decision came after the county district attorney said Tuesday that he will not prosecute most cases against protesters who are arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct, interfering with a peace officer or other low-level offenses.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt’s office said it has received about 550 cases related to protests that have occurred since May 29. About 410 cases are misdemeanors or violations, and many of those will probably be rejected under the new policy.

State police spokesman Timothy R. Fox told The Washington Post that the agency had committed to serving the area for two weeks, a timeline that ended earlier this week. “The Oregon State Police is continually reassessing our resources and the needs of our partner agencies and at this time we are inclined to move those resources back to counties where prosecution of criminal conduct is still a priority,” Fox said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...clines-prosecute-most-protest-related-crimes/

I normally don't like to use WaPo as a source... but this is very interesting. The state police are pulling out, not because there is no longer an issue, but because the local officials won't prosecute. It will be interesting to see if federal officers move back in to protect the courthouses, or try to get a commitment from local police to protect them. Of course, the local police have their hands full protecting police precincts from being destroyed.

It sounds like the Portland Mayor and Multnomah County DA are surrendering.

 

[gino]

Are these politicians just that scared of not being reelected that they refuse to stand up and do their jobs? We have to be getting to the point where the average person in Portland is getting sick of this. How many people have had their businesses looted? This has to be negatively effecting the local economy pretty badly? Are the locals starting to get angry?

 

[dcsports]

Are these politicians just that scared of not being reelected that they refuse to stand up and do their jobs? We have to be getting to the point where the average person in Portland is getting sick of this. How many people have had their businesses looted? This has to be negatively effecting the local economy pretty badly? Are the locals starting to get angry?

You have to wonder. I'm curious how they are going to approach upcoming budgets - having to cut police while the city is under siege, not to mention repairing millions of dollars in damages.

Apparently Schmidt was just elected.

 

[Michael Johnson]

Looks like Trump might need to step in.