Oregon Public Broadcasting

Rank and file police officers in Portland say the proposed firing of one of their number for the shooting of an unarmed civilian has "deeply compromised" public safety.

City leaders haven't confirmed that they're recommending the officer be fired. But as Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, the discipline procedure is exposing a deep division between police, their leadership and Portland's elected officials.

Campbell was shot and killed in January, after relatives asked police to check on his welfare.

Officer Ron Frashour fired the shot. He told investigators later he thought Campbell, a 25-year-old black man, had a gun and was going to use it. Campbell was unarmed.

Portland Police Chief Mike Reese and Mayor Sam Adams recommended disciplinary action Wednesday but they aren't making their proposal public. Instead, Adams says, they're giving officers another chance to present their side of the story.

Sam Adams: "They have 30 days to meet with us and provide information that they think mitigates our proposed discipline. And then after that we make our final determination about discipline."

Chief Reese wouldn't talk on tape but released a statement saying he believes that "significant policy violations" did occur and that it's his job to address those violations.

But the Portland Police Union issued its own statement saying the officers in the Campbell case were following accepted policies and procedures -- and that the city's proposed punishments are deeply disappointing and disturbing.

The statement also indicates that the chief and the mayor recommended firing Frashour.

Union spokesman, Daryl Turner, wouldn't talk, but said in a written statement "Trust between the rank and file of the Portland Police Bureau and its internal and external review policies has all but disappeared."

He goes on to say: "What cannot happen is for Portland police officers to face termination and substantial discipline for doing their jobs correctly. If that occurs, as it has today, public safety is deeply compromised."

The city’s Use of Force Review Board, which is made up of police and citizens, recommended earlier that officer Frashour be fired.

In addition, it recommended Officer Ryan Lewton, who fired six beanbag rounds at Campbell, and on-scene supervisor Sergeant Liani Reyna, be suspended without pay for two-weeks.

The board recommended lesser reprimands for other officers.

Mayor Adams assumed the role of police commissioner in May and handpicked Reese as his new chief.

This disciplinary process is the first major test of the new administration.

Online:

Mayor Adams' Statement

Portland Police Association's Statement