Oregon Public Broadcasting

Officer Joseph Wild is no longer on the Portland Police payroll Wednesday. He’s resigned in the face of more than 100 counts of sexual harassment. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Wild is accused of repeatedly making sexually-explicit phone calls to seven different women and a 14-year-old relative.

Court documents say he threatened rape to at least some of them. An internal inquiry found he made the calls on his police cell, while on duty.

Police Chief Rosie Sizer and Commissioner Dan Saltzman recommended Wild’s termination last month. But he had refused to resign and was in jail awaiting trial.

He was scheduled to have a so-called ‘mitigation hearing’ with Saltzman yesterday, but said he wished to resign instead.

Police say the criminal charges still stand. Wild pleaded not guilty July 1st. His trial has been set for Sept.14th.