Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Reverend Jesse Jackson, visiting Portland, says he has asked the federal government to look into the police shooting of  Aaron Campbell. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Jackson spoke at the University of Oregon Monday evening, but added an extra trip up to Portland to talk about the Aaron Campbell case.

Campbell was shot in the back by Portland police officer Ronald Frashour last month after a 911 call indicating Campbell was suicidal. He was upset about the death of his brother earlier in the day from heart problems.

Just before a church rally to remember Campbell, the Reverend Jackson said he heard about the case and has called both the U.S. Department of Justice and the House Judiciary Committee.

Jesse Jackson: "We think this case is really national. Because there's a pattern, this is the fourth such killing within six or seven years here. There's a pattern of misbehavior. Plus these departments getting federal monies have some obligation to represent and reflect the make-up of their employment and in their hiring and promotional patters. So this does rise to the level of national concern for the Department of Justice."

Jackson talked about the possibility of the family filing a lawsuit in the Campbell case. He also pointed out that the grand jury that heard Campbell's case had no black members.  

Jackson says he was also troubled by the fact that officers left Campbell on the ground once he'd been shot -- because they were worried he might still have a gun.

Jesse Jackson: "Worse than pulling the trigger. To let him lay bleeding like a dog, while dogs sniffed his bleeding body, and handcuffed a shot man. That's beneath the dignity of man. It's beneath the dignity of Oregonians."

Following Jackson's comments, hundreds of people  gathered at the Maranatha Church in a protest for justice.

The Portland Police also released its investigation into the Campbell case Tuesday.

Chief Rosie Sizer didn't want to comment on the 700 page document before the community saw it. But she stressed officer-involved shootings in Portland have dropped by more than half in the last six years.

Rose Sizer: "We have done a lot and I believe we will do a lot as we review and analIZe the Aaron Campbell case. What I cannot promise is perfect outcomes. I cannot promise that every police action will be perfect and I cannot promise that our jobs will be done without risk."

The 700-page report lends more context to the shooting. It contains Campbell's long rap-sheet, which includes everything from complaints involving  gang-activity to disorderly conduct.

The report also containS an interview with the police marksman, Ronald Frashour.

He says that when he arrived on the scene, it was his belief that there was an armed, suicidal, and possibly homicidal, man inside the appartment with kids.

He saw the kids leave but says he was also worried that campbell wanted to commit so-called 'suicide by police.

Frashour says he saw Campbell come out with his hands in the air, but he was surprised at how quickly he moved, and how determined he seemed.

He also says he was concentrating so hard on his job and he can't remember what officers were shouting at Campbell.

Then, after Campbell was hit with police beanbags for not following directions, Frashour reports seeing Campbell shove one hand into his waistband and run.

He says he was worried Campbell would reach a wall or a car and then pull a gun and start shooting at officers.

So Frashour says he shot Campbell once.

Much of the medical examiner's report was blacked out, so it's not clear if Campbell would have lived if medical attention had immediately been given.

There is no word yet whether a Multnomah County Judge will release the details of the grand jury hearing.