Police Officer Frashour fired for Aaron Campbell murder

After an internal investigation, Portland Police Chief Michael Reese announced that Officer Frashour who murdered Aaron Campbell last January will be fired. Three other officers face disciplinary action for their involvement. Portland, OR, USA, 17/11/2010.

According to a press release from the Portland Police Association, “They [Police Chief Michael Reese and Mayor Sam Adams] have decided to terminate Officer Ron Frashour’s employment with the Portland Police Bureau, and to discipline Officer Ryan Lewton, Sergeant Liani Reyna and Sergeant John Birkinbine, even though the facts prove that the officers and sergeants did nothing wrong and performed their jobs correctly on the evening of January 29, 2010.”

Aaron Campbell was shot in the back with an AR-15 by officer Ronald Frashour whilst he was surrendering to the police. Reportedly officers had removed their ear pieces, shooting first with bean bag rounds then releasing a K-9 attack dog before the fatal shooting. Earlier that day, his brother had died from medical complications and as a result, Mr. Campbell was extremely distressed and suicidal.

The Police association and their 930 members believe that Mayor Sam Adams and Police Chief Mike Reese have ignored the facts surrounding the incident and have used the aforementioned officers as scapegoats in order to ‘minimise the City’s and the Police Bureau’s political and civil liability.’

Furthermore, the union states that the Training Division’s investigation was inaccurate and incomplete and that Patrol Tactics, Defensive Tactics and Firearms lead instructors were not approached for their input.

“The input of these training instructors and staff was not only unwanted, but expressly disallowed, and they were ordered by their lieutenant not to discuss the contents of the critique with anyone outside of the Training Division.”

Reportedly the Portland Police Bureau has no official framework for dealing with officers involved in shootings.

Whilst it may seem that justice has been served through this action, a worrying rift between the Police Bureau and those in control has expanded leaving the community more vulnerable in the future.

“Today we can say that the rank and file of the Portland Police Bureau have lost faith in their leaders. Disciplinary decisions cannot and should not be made for reasons of political expediency. No one – not the community, not the City, not the Police Bureau, and not even Mayor Adams and Chief Reese – will ultimately benefit from the imposition of baseless disciplinary action.”